4 New Year, New You Charity challenges 8 Reach new heights
Climbing a mountain is arguably one of the most extreme charity fundraising challenges. Whether it’s in the UK or overseas, here’s how to prepare. Words: Rhonda Carrier
F
Promotional Content • Saturday 8th January 2022
rom Mount Snowdon in Wales to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Everest South Base Camp in Nepal,
mountain treks are a popular way to raise money for your chosen charity. Inspired by the likes of Jade Tirlwall, Ed Balls and Alexander Armstrong, who climbed Kilimanjaro in 2019 for Comic Relief, many fundraisers are dusting off their walking boots. Challenges vary a great deal in
what they demand of you. Snowdon, for example, takes five to seven hours to hike up if you do it all at once. Higher peaks obviously take much longer, not only because of the distance covered but you also have to ascend very slowly in order to acclimatise and not fall prey to altitude sickness. Kilimanjaro takes at least five days, while Everest base camp takes at least nine days, with several full rest days on route. “My pre-mountain preparation
involved altitude training in a London gym with Dani Dyer,” Ed Balls tells me. “She passed with flying colours but when I pulled off my mask I could hardly breathe. Our trainer looked concerned, told me I was borderline and arrived at our home the next morning with a special oxygen-deprivation machine. ‘Use this for three hours a day for the next three weeks to acclimatise and you’ll be fine,’ he told me. I did, and he was right.”
Clothing is important. Research and invest in the right clothing and gear for your challenge
On the way to Everest, Nepal PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY
How to prepare Te key to any ascent is preparation, which means fitness, being aware of your limits and thorough knowledge of the challenge you’re embracing. Organised challenges or treks are advisable for all routes but mandatory for many — you can’t climb Kilimanjaro, for instance, without a licensed guide. For those thinking of taking the
plunge, I asked Ed if he had any tips to share. “My advice is get yourself tested; and then choose a good TV box set to while away all those hours wearing a smelly [oxygen- deprivation] mask.” Clothing is important. Research
and invest in the right clothing and gear for your challenge, from layers, waterproofs and warm but light trekking boots to, on relevant climbs, sufficiently warm sleeping bags (organised treks provide tents). Buy your trekking boots months before your climb and wear them a lot, even around the house, to break them in.
How to train Start training several months ahead of your challenge, building up your climbing from about three hours a day to roughly eight hours, as this will probably be what you’ll walk during your challenge, whether it’s a one-day Snowdon or a tougher climb of several days. Closer to the climb, you need to be hiking several times a week. Hike up and down hills to get
used to ascending and descending, building up to about altitude of about 3,280ft if possible. If you aren’t close to hills, try a Stairmaster machine or actual stairs. Do this while wearing a weighted backpack, too, building up gradually until you attain the weight you’ll actually carry on your route.
With you at Norwood’s side, together we can achieve so much more.
Master the majestic London Marathon or be gloriously challenged by one of our famous international cycling adventures. Join now to change vulnerable children and adults’ lives.
To find out more, please call Julie on 07718 969138 or visit
norwood.org.uk/challenges
Patron Her Majesty The Queen. Registered Charity No. 1059050
WINNING WITH NORWOOD
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
