Members of KVH Media Group take on the 24 Peaks Challenge for Seafarers UK!

Why we took part in the 24 Peaks Challenge:

Seafarers UK is a charity close to our hearts as we all see the hardship some seafarers face, delivering over 90% of everything we own, around the world, around the clock. We care about crew welfare and felt like this was a way to show how much!

The Challenge:

The 24 Peaks is one of the most demanding mountain walking events devised as a charity challenge.

We started the day early on Saturday morning (12^th July 2014) at 4am. An early start required in order to ensure a full 14 hour walking day!

A safety briefing was given by the experienced event organisers and we learnt the number one rule; stay together!

So, with our mission ahead, we set off in to the heart of the Lake District on a scenic horizontal (for 10 minutes) path! We had fantastic weather and it was a great start to our day in the Lake District.

Our first mountain, Red Pike, took us over 750m in to the mountains and at times had us scrambling up loose shale. This was a real test of ability and a taste of things to come! Finally at the top, we radioed in using our call sign ‘Schneider’, ate a few bites and set off down our first mountain, feeling victorious and ready for the next peak!

10 hours later we had conquered 5 mountains! A mean feat when none of us are walkers and some of us had never climbed a mountain previously!

We had all worked together to get through as a team and were enjoying the camaraderie. However, we met our match on mountain #5, Great Gable, after spending a painful hour scrambling down its steep shale side (keeping out of the way of the amazing fell runners who were clearly mountain goats in past lives!).

We decided to end our journey here as the rain started and many of us had injuries. We all agreed that we were happy with our achievement and vowed to be back! A long 3 hour walk back home left us time to reflect on our journey, one which we all underestimated and felt great awe for those who have completed the whole challenge.

No doubt this experience will stay with us a lifetime and we were all glad we took part. We ended on a high and the challenge helped bring us all together as well as raising some important funds for Seafarers UK!

About Seafarers UK:

Seafarers UK receives no government funding and relies on donations and fundraising to be able to carry on providing long-term aid. Last year, they gave hope and help to over 100,000 seafarers when they needed it most!

As an ‘island nation’ we depend on our seafarers to defend our shores, trade with other countries and import essential fuel and food. The job of a seafarer is therefore vital, but also demanding and hazardous with a much greater chance of injury than many other professions. A large number of those serving will be facing problems of very different kinds; long periods of separation from friends and family, extended periods of duty, fatigue, and working heavy machinery whilst being exposed to harsh weather.
Donating: https://www.justgiving.com/KVHMediaGroup/

What can be done with your money?:

•  £2 helps pay for food for a recently bereaved child of a seafarer.
• £500 provides a week’s worth of dementia care for an ex-seafarer.
• £12 provides weekly pension top-ups for retired merchant seafarers in need.
• £1,000 provides grants to three widows of deceased Merchant Navy sailors for a year.
• £35 pays for one night’s accommodation for a homeless veteran.
• £2,000 provides a week’s occupational therapy for an injured seafarer.
• £200 can provide bereavement counselling for three children.
• £5,000 provides personal flotation devices for 69 fishermen, saving valuable lives.