Charity Challenges – Adventure Travel That Gives Back

How many new year’s resolutions are kept beyond the end of January? There’s one way to ensure that 2015 is the year for making changes and sticking to them. Signing up for a charity challenge is a real motivator. It ticks all these resolutions off the list in one go: (1) get fit (2) lose weight (3) take up a new hobby (4) raise money for charity (5) see more of the world.

Charity challenges appeal to singles, couples, groups, corporates (for team building) and even people on honeymoon. They attract people of all ages from 18 to 80 and all walks of life. Participants often sign up to mark a significant milestone – special birthday, anniversary, mid life crisis, divorce or to help or remember someone close who has been helped by a charity.

Popular challenges for 2015 are a mix of far-flung adventures and experiences closer to home. Nightrider™ is a 100km overnight charity bike ride through the capital on 6 / 7 June 2015. The route showcases London’s iconic landmarks and has a brand new film and music theme. Cycle London to Paris is a must-do long weekend challenge which culminates with the finale of the Tour de France in Paris in late July. Challenges further afield include scaling Mount Kilimanjaro at sunrise, cycling across the tropical landscape of Costa Rica and trekking through hill tribe villages in Burma. Any charity can be supported on these challenges.

Leading charity tour operator Classic Tours originated the concept of overseas charity challenges. Since 1992 it has inspired over 50,000 people to raise £90 million after costs. Through its work, Classic Tours has made a difference to hundreds of UK charities from large national organisations to local charitable trusts and the lives and millions of people in need.

Gavin Kramer, Managing Director at Classic Tours said: “People of all ages and from all walks of life challenge themselves for charity. There is something for everyone – cycling, trekking, running, climbing mountains and riding horses. Taking part is often a life-changing for those involved. They achieve a huge personal goal while making a real difference to their favourite charity”.

Classic Tours encourages charities and participants to give something back to the country they are visiting. Where possible, challenges include local project visits so that participants can see the charity’s work first-hand. In May 2014 after trekking the Inca Trail Trek in Peru a group of people supporting a number of charities had the option to visit a local school where they could donate much-needed equipment. In November 2014 participants on the EMMS International Cycle Nepal challenge visited a local healthcare project in Pokhara.

Classic Tours have taken many high profile people and celebrities on charity challenges including HRH Princess Eugenie, Nick Clegg, Edwina Currie, Ben Fogle, Professor Lord Robert Winston, Fern Britton and Carol Thatcher to name but a few. In May 2015 Fern Britton is cycling the length of Britain from John O’Groats to Land’s End on #Challenge57 in aid of the Genesis Research Trust and is looking for people to join her.

The founder of Classic Tours, Sir Erich Reich, has been knighted for services to charity. He has these words of advice for anyone considering signing up for a charity challenge in 2015: “You must to be ready for hard physical endeavour and also be imaginative in raising the necessary funds. Always remember time is required not only for the challenge itself but also for training and fundraising. Involving the family and close friends can be very helpful. But the feeling of achievement both physically and in helping others makes it all worthwhile”.

Make 2015 a year to remember and do something amazing. There are challenges available in the UK, Europe and beyond. Visit www.classictours.co.uk and www.nightrider.org.uk for more details.