Shropshire charity, Climbing Out, has run two successful fundraising hikes which raised a total of over £12,000.
The first was delivered for home life safety business, Aico. The charity led 55 Aico employees on a 17km route over Shropshire hills in the Carding Mill Valley area. Aico has supported the charity in various ways over the last three years, helping fund equipment and kit for its programmes, new branding for the charity’s van, and funding the documentary film, Breaking Waves, which charts the extraordinary experiences that led to Kelda Wood setting up the charity as well as her record-breaking solo row across the Atlantic. The hike allowed the Aico team to embrace Climbing Out’s ethos of getting outdoors and active in a group setting to increase a sense of connection. Aico’s staff raised over £4,000 to complete the hike.
Jane Pritchard, CSR & Community Engagement Lead at Aico, said, “Our fundraising hike was a particularly special day. It gave Aico colleagues the opportunity to better understand the work Climbing Out does, experience some of the principles behind their programmes and raise funds to help that work continue.”
Then, the charity held its annual fundraising hike, which is open to all, with 53 hikers taking part, raising over £8,000.
Climbing Out’s mission is to empower life after trauma. Their residential programmes combine outdoor activities with personal development coaching, which provides the tools to manage mindset and behaviour following a life-changing injury, illness or trauma. The charity was founded by Kelda Wood MBE. The charity also offers a self-paced online programme.
Kelda said both hikes were a huge success. “We have been so lucky to enjoy two brilliant fundraising hikes in the space of a few days. The sun shone, and everyone went above and beyond to make them truly special events. A huge thanks to the hikers from both groups for putting in an enormous effort, both in walking and fundraising.”
Find out more about Climbing Out at climbingout.org.uk
