Thursday, 8 November 2012

Charity Challenge for All!


“Everyone can rise to the Challenge!”

A few years ago Mountain House Holidays were contacted by national charity who provide services for people with learning disabilities.  They had been turned down by several companies who organise charity challenge events because they wanted to include people they support in a fund raising event. As we organise and run adventure holidays for people with learning disabilities we readily agreed to work with them and help organise their challenge!

The successful team on the summit of Mulhacen
The challenge consisted of four events in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains:
i. A Rock Climbing and abseiling day

ii. A day to acclimatise to altitude ascending Cerro del Caballo 3011m

iii. A Canyon descent

iv. An Ascent of mainland Spain’s highest mountain, Mulhacen 3482m over two days.

The group was split into two groups for the first two days (rock climbing and the
acclimatising day).

In total with travelling, the group were away for six days spending 5 nights in
Spain, two of the nights were in a mountain hut, The Poqueira Refuge.

Each person with a learning disability had a nominated “supporter” who was
either a friend or carer. The group all travelled and undertook the activities
together.

There were ten people who took part in the challenge, three who had a learning
disability.  Nine of the ten made it to the summit of Mulhacen. The charity
arranged flights and insurance for the participants, Mountain House met the
group and provided all accommodation (full board), transport in Spain and the
activities.

Would we do it again?  Definitely!

Since then, we have hosted a number of holidays for people with a learning disability, but thought it would be good for 2013 to return to the concept of an inclusive challenge.  Why not join us with a group of friends (including people with a learning disability) and raise some money for charity.
See our website for more details.