With the right preparation, a fundraising challenge which may seem daunting initially can be rewarding in every sense, as Abdul discovered when he joined us for the Best Foot Forward Snowdon hike last year.
“I had always liked the idea of climbing Snowdon but wanted it to be attached to a good cause. So, when I saw that the British Liver Trust was organising a Snowdon hike, I jumped at the opportunity! I was born with chronic hepatitis B, and I liked the idea that I was doing this for myself and for anyone suffering from liver disease.
“Although I enjoy walking, I had never taken on anything as extreme as Snowdon before. I trained by joining group hikes to Box Hill and just walking around National Trust parks to increase my walking endurance three weeks prior to the Snowdon hike.
“As far as fundraising is concerned, because I have personal experience of liver disease, I shared my story on my fundraising page and was overwhelmed by the support I received – it was brilliant to beat my expected fundraising target!
“When it came to the big day, I would say that the hike was tougher than I expected, mainly due to the weather conditions on that day. While it was nice and sunny in England, it was windy and raining in Wales which made the hike even more challenging. However, since this was for a good cause, we were all able to push through the unfavourable weather to reach the top. The group were a very friendly bunch, and the hiking guides were very careful to pace us, so we had ample time to rest and continue the hike until we reached the top.
“I did have aching legs for about a week after the hike, but it was completely worth it! When you can achieve something on behalf of a cause it gives you a real sense of fulfilment that you have done something that goes beyond yourself. I would certainly encourage anyone who is thinking of doing something similar to go for it! It is an amazing and memorable experience, and you will meet so many lovely people along the way. The hikes are very well organised, and you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
If you’d like to be part of an organised hike like Abdul, check out details of this summer’s Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge here .
