Stef’s Sporting Activities

I thought on this spring-like Friday I would share with you how I like to keep fit. Hopefully this will spark your interest and then you can understand why I enjoy my chosen sporting activities.

As you may have gathered I rather like a bike and all that goes with it. Although, this hasn’t always been the case. A few years back I decided to sign myself up for an open challenge cycling across Central America. This prospect both frightened and excited me! I hadn’t ridden since I was a nipper so decided to get my bike out of the shed, dust it down and take it for an outing. Winter had set in so rather than brave the cold for training, I scoured the internet for other ways to train without my hands and feet freezing. Then I came across spinning (cycling indoors on a static bike). I know this is not everyone’s cup of tea but from the moment I started I have committed to it and reaped the benefits. This is mainly down to the studio I use and the instructors. The Pedal Studio, Putney not only offers great bikes and very knowledgeable instructors but this is all done within a relaxed and sociable environment. It’s going from strength to strength and it’s good value for money. It differs slightly from your usual gym spinning class as the music is not so loud and there’s not a flashing disco light in sight!  Spinning has been great for core strength, endurance and interval training purposes. We also work with a heart rate monitor so you can see how hard (or not so hard) you are working.

For those interested, I successfully completed my overseas cycling challenge and both laughed and cried at the undulations!

My second newly discovered hobby is bouldering (a form of climbing on a low level wall without ropes). A brand new indoor bouldering centre recently opened in Parsons Green called Urban Ascent and this is where I ventured for my first experience. Admittedly, I was a little anxious as I have little upper body strength so wasn’t quite sure how I was going to scale a wall. As it turned out, I took to it well and couldn’t get over the strength I felt in my arms just after my first session. The staff were incredibly helpful and approachable and for that very reason I am signing up!

Everyone has their ways of keeping fit and mine are geared towards building strength in my legs and upper body. I do enjoy the odd run but if you can find something you enjoy then you’re more likely to stick with it.

Happy training!

What is an Open Challenge?

What is an Open Challenge?

Unsure of what an Open Challenge means? Well, you’re not alone! An Open Challenge is a great opportunity for an individual or group of friends to take part in a Challenge whilst raising  funds for a Charity of their choice. Most people sign up as an individual and so our Challenges are filled with people of different ages, backgrounds, interests and supporting a mixture of Charities.  But you will all have one common interest…..to achieve your Challenge of a lifetime for a worthy cause.

Next steps:

• Choose an Open Challenge
• Choose a Charity of your choice and inform them of your exciting Challenge and that you’d like to raise funds for them.
• Choose your payment option:

-          Fundraising :  Pay a registration fee of £295 (dependant on Challenge) directly to us. Then pledge to raise the sponsorship target which will need to be with your chosen Charity by the date agreed when you sign up with them. The cost of airport taxes are paid by the participant so we will invoice you directly for this. In this option the Charity pay your expedition costs.

-          Payment and Fundraising :  Pay a registration fee of £295 (dependant on Challenge) directly to us. Then pay for the costs of the expedition yourself directly to The Ultimate Travel Company. We will invoice you approx.8 weeks before the trip departs with the final tour costs plus airport taxes. You can then simply choose a charity to support and endeavour to raise as much sponsorship as possible.

• Complete and return your application and medical form and return to: Ultimate Challenges  

Take a closer look at our Open Challenges……there’s a Challenge waiting for you! 

  ***2013 DATES JUST RELEASED!!***

Bike Affection

As promised, here’s a little insight into the purchase of my new bike…

Last time I wrote, there was a lot of deliberating about road, mountain, cyclo cross and whether to go for old or new. Well, I decided upon road and new. So I busied my evenings with scouring the internet to see what was on offer…..I finally stumbled across the Felt Z95 2012 from Evans Cycles. The test ride alone sealed the bike’s fate and it was to be mine!

I decided to take Evans up on their Ride2Work scheme which I thoroughly recommend for anyone commuting to work and finds paying out the full cost of a new bike rather daunting. Your company buys the bike initially and you repay them on a monthly basis through your salary. What could be simpler?!

I never thought a bike could bring me so much pleasure but this Felt has succeeded. Here you can see for yourself, my new and very exciting addition:

If you have any thoughts or bicycle stories then we’d like to hear them.

Happy Friday!

Fundraising for Challenge Events

We know that signing up for an overseas challenge and committing to raise several thousand pounds can be a daunting prospect. With sponsorship targets that are often between £3000 and £4000, it’s difficult to know where to start.  We have compiled a few helpful hints below which we hope will set you on your way.

1. Break your sponsorship target up into small manageable amounts. Don’t expect to raise £3000 from one event, or one request. Instead aim to raise a certain amount each month in the lead up to your event.
2. Set up an online fundraising page. You can do this through Justgiving or Virgin Money Giving. Many charities now have their own fundraising sites incorporated in their website so do check with them before you set up a site.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask. The worst someone can do is say no. Send your online fundraising page to as many people as you can. Ask your friends to send it on to their friends. Are you organising a party? Ask your local shops and businesses to donate items that you can then raffle or auction. Can you get the company you work for to help?
4. Give something back in return. We’ve found that people are usually more willing to part with their money if they can get something back in return. Can you do a bake sale, or organise an event with a raffle or auction?
5. Use your skills. Think about what you’re good at? Can you raise money by using your own skills?  My favourite example of this was a professional photographer who took part in one of our Kili trips. He decided that he would take a photo every degree from the summit – so 360 photos. He then sold as many of these photos off for £100 each before he went on the trip, with people picking the degree that they wanted. He only needed to sell 36 to hit his fundraising target. We might not all have such a saleable skill but most people have something that they could do, whether it’s baking cakes or making greetings cards.
6. Tell everyone what you’re doing and why you’re doing it – including your local newspaper, radio station etc. Set up a blog or twitter account and keep people updated on your training and fundraising progress.
7. Recruit people to help you. This will greatly increase your fundraising network. Can your friends and family ask their friends to support you?  If you’re organising an event can you get 5 of your friends to sell 10 tickets to their friends? Do you have friends with skills that could be auctioned off at an event?
8. Use a variety of methods. Don’t expect to hit your fundraising target simply by sending your online fundraising page to all your contacts. Explore a range of different ways to raise your sponsorship – your chosen charity will be able to help with ideas and fundraising materials.
9. Don’t forget to say a big THANK YOU. When someone does donate towards your sponsorship please remember to say thank you. Send everyone who helped you reach your sponsorship target a letter or email to let them know all about your adventure.

Unfortunately there are no quick fixes to hitting your sponsorship target – it does take time and dedication. Don’t forget that your chosen charity will be able to provide a huge amount of support to help you raise your sponsorship target.

Good Luck!

Question Time with…Matt Buck (Action Medical Research Rep.)

• Favourite place/country you’ve visited?

That’s a very tough question as I’ve been very lucky to have visited many amazing and fascinating places around the world.  I loved the south island of New Zealand; you’ll struggle to find a better place to enjoy so many awesome outdoor activities.

• What support will a participant get from a Charity?

Every participant gets full support from the Action Medical Research events team from the moment you register for an event to the finish line.  We offer help with both fundraising and training for your challenge so you are not left on your own. We are always here to offer advice and help.

• What would your advice be for anyone seeking to try a Charity Challenge but anxious about it?

Go for it, I can guarantee that you will not regret your decision.  Many people are anxious about joining events on their own but the truth of it is, everyone is in the same position and keen to support each other.  You’ll come on an event nervous and anxious but you’ll leave feeling on top of the world and with a load of new friends for life.  Challenging yourself and raising vital funds for a charity are two of the most rewarding things that you can possibly do, so what’s not to like?

• Your number one fundraising tip? 

Be inventive – don’t just expect to raise your money by posting updates on facebook, it probably won’t work!  Organise some events, bake some cakes and sell them, wash cars…there are so many ways of getting the money in, you just need to be a bit creative.  Also don’t leave it until the last minute – hmm that’s two top tips isn’t it?!☺

• What’s the most outrageous fundraising event you have been involved in or heard of?

Not sure if it’s the most outrageous but the one that always makes me laugh is an ‘underwater javelin competition’- that is pure genius!

• If you were on a desert island and you could have 3 items…

I’d want a boat, a compass and a water purifier, is that allowed?!

Thanks Matt!

Trip Snacks

One of the most important (well, for me) things to remember for a trip is what snacks to take in order to keep those energy levels up. I’ve certainly been on plenty of trips where I’ve thought, “why didn’t I think to bring that” and proceeded to get snack envy.

There are plenty of energy bars, gels, etc on the market. These definitely have their place but we have discovered that consuming them on a daily basis whilst on a trip can become a little to hard to stomach.

Here, we offer our top 5 alternatives:

• Haribo Tangfastics
• Percy Pigs
• Bounce balls
• Biltong
• Nuts and Fruit mix

Snacks are provided on all of our trips at points along your route, however, we have come to learn that people like to take their own treats.

What’s your favourite snack?

Is it true that time goes by quicker when you’re older?

As I’m putting the final details together for the Scope Everest Trek it dawned on my that my last trip there was in 2006, where has the time gone (apart from having a child, gaining 2 new amazing colleagues, moving offices, turning 40 this year)!?  This will be the 8th time Scope has run this amazing trekking challenge in the stunning Everest region, all of us here wish you an amazing trip! 

Then I thought, we should organise this trip for anyone, so we have, join us in November on our brand new Open Challenge to Everest. 

Whilst most of us can only dream of summiting this mighty mountain, this stunning 19 day trek allows us to become seduced by the myths and excitement of Mount Everest and the dynamic region of the Sherpa people. We will have the opportunity to explore its lower majesty. Along the way, we will witness ancient Tibetan Buddhism as we visit and learn and become inspired from our guides.

What a view on a Monday morning!

Come on, what’s better than 14 days in the longest, highest mountain range in the world!