108kms in Searing Heat!
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Sahara Desert Trek 2011
Charity Challenge Sahara Desert Trek
Having previously trekked through the rugged jungle in Thailand during November 2010, Emily Wild & Lee Hubert signed up for their next big challenge! The duo have recently returned to the island after taking part in a Sahara Desert Trek- to raise funds for locally based charity; Hope for a Child. They were joined by Danny Lee-Williams, also raising key funds for HFAC. The expedition took them through a forbidding landscape, punctuated by stark peaks, formidable gorges and bright oases. They trekked across the dry, open land in high temperatures of 35 degrees, covering 108kms in 4.5 days and camped each night in Bedouin tents.
Emily, 21, who volunteers for the charity as Events Manager and local fundraiser; added how “the time we spent in the Sahara Desert with twenty three strangers whom we joined in the UK was an experience of a lifetime. From the very beginning, we bonded as a group incredibly well and we hope that we have made friends we will keep in contact with for years to come. There was a range of ages within the group and everyone had their personal stories and reasons as to why they were taking part in this fundraising challenge. None of us knew exactly what to expect before embarking on this trek but it lived up to any expectations we had. I was slightly more anxious about this trek due to the heat conditions and the lack of washing facilities, (in the jungle we had the river to bathe in at the end of each day), but when times got tough, which they did, we reminded ourselves that we set out to do this for a worthy cause and we all supported one another. The trek was worth every hour of hard training and fundraising and we have memories that we will never forget and that you just cannot explain to someone else without experiencing it for yourself.”
“the desert landscape was forever changing. One day we walked 30km over rocks, which was extremely hard on the legs and feet, other mornings we traversed across barren plateaus where you could see absolutely nothing beyond the skyline, to then find ourselves climbing the most amazing sand dunes for which photos do not do justice. We felt very proud of ourselves when we crossed the finish line and believe that every penny of sponsorship was well earned!”
- Lee, 31 works for 2e2 in Guernsey
Emily & Lee, who paid all trip expenses themselves, recently organised a large event to help raise funds for Hope for a Child, and to create awareness of their challenge. The ‘Masquerade Ball in aid of Hope for a Child’ took place on Saturday 1st October at St Pierre Park Hotel. The event, sponsored by CBO Projects, Rent-a-Guernsey Limited, Guernsey Post Batif & 2e2 was a sell out with 262 people attending. The evening comprised of a drinks reception, three-course dinner, live music from local band The Half Day Friday’s, fire dancing and balloon magic. “The event took a lot of planning and hard work, but it all paid off when we realised we had reached £5,000! We did not expect to gain so much interest in the event and it was amazing to see so many people supporting the charity and our Sahara Desert challenge. We are thankful to all those who attended the event and to all four sponsors; without them the event would not have been possible”. All funds raised from the event and their Sahara Desert Trek went directly towards Hope for a Child’s Village Savings & Loan Associations in Uganda and will make a huge difference to a significant number of lives.
To sponsor the duo’s efforts, please visit www.justgiving.com/teams/HfacSaharaDesertTrek