Thane took on the GranGuanche Audax Gravel, an 800 km self-supported, non-stop bike ‘race’, mostly on gravel tracks, across 5 of the Canary Islands. The route incorporates a lung-busting 56,000 ft of climbing and Thane was planning to take 5 days, including ferry crossings, to complete this epic challenge!

He slept out in a bivvy most nights and had to carry everything he needed for the whole event, buying food from local shops along the route.

He chose to support the Youth Adventure Trust to enable more young people to experience the delights of outdoor activities, helping them overcome their fears and expanding their comfort zones and knowledge.

Matt has been a regular participant with friends in YAT’s 10 Peaks Challenge in the Brecon Beacons, and was looking for a new solo challenge… The Bath 50 Challenge is a 50km ultramarathon through the iconic landscape around Bath and was just the thing to really test his endurance and resilience.

Training started in the depths of winter and staying motivated to run in the dark, cold and wet was tough.

“There were plenty of times I thought about skipping the run that day. But I wanted to help the Youth Adventure Trust make a difference in young people’s lives, whilst at the same time showing them that even an overweight, unfit, middle aged dude like me can find the inner strength to do something outside of his current comfort zone.”

His incredible fundraising enables more young people to get outdoors, challenge themselves and build resilience.

Louise trekked all 70 miles (it was actually 75 miles due to diversions for unsafe cliffs!) of the Isle of Wight Coastal Path over 4 days, alongside her sister in law, using the challenge as an opportunity to fulfil a long-held dream, spend time outdoors with family, as well as raising money to help fund summer camps for young people.

Louise has volunteered for YAT and has seen first-hand the fantastic work of the adventure programme. “Now I work in youth adventure travel, I’m even more passionate about giving young people opportunities to develop their confidence and skills through adventure and the great outdoors.”

Her incredible fundraising enables more young people to get outdoors, challenge themselves and build resilience.

Good friends Paul, Mike, Lawrence & Roger took on the 3 Peaks Challenge to raise funds for us, taking on the famous 34 km route with 3021m of ascent, and ably assisted by Mark and Spencer as their support drivers.

As Roger says, “I have fond memories from the age of 8 of the annual family walking holidays to the Lake District. These holidays, and Scouts, started my love for the outdoors, particularly mountains, and by 18 I was walking and climbing in the Alps, Dolomites and Rockies. We decided to support the Youth Adventure Trust to enable more young people to experience the delights of outdoor activities, helping them overcome their fears and expanding their comfort zones and knowledge.”

Pierre took on the world famous 26.2 mile run and wanted to use his ballot place to raise funds to get young people outside.

Pierre is a huge advocate for spending time in nature as a way to re-energise, revitalise, and reconnect with our roots.

“I have 2 boys and I try to get them outdoors everyday, teaching them about the wonderful world of plants, fungi and animals. You can sense the wonder and awe in them and hopefully that will lead them to live a fulfilled life. The Youth Adventure Trust does this for kids on a big scale which I admire and support fully. I ran the London Marathon to enable them to do more!”

His incredible fundraising enables more young people to get outdoors, challenge themselves and build resilience.

James took on a mountain expedition to Poland with Wim Hof to build mental resilience by jumping in icy waters, frozen lakes and streams, ice baths and hiking up mountains in just shorts! The training ahead of the challenge involved taking ice baths every day in an oak barrel outside – chilly!

James has been a volunteer for the Youth Adventure Trust for a few years, supporting our young people to over their own challenges, and so has seen first-hand how challenge is the provider of growth. He really wanted to use this expedition as an opportunity not only to test himself, but to raise awareness of the Youth Adventure Trust and what we do to support vulnerable young people.

“Despite all my training, there were many elements to the expedition that I found a real challenge – it was tough mentally and physically. But it was an amazing week, one I will never forget and indeed take things I have learned with me going forward.”

Youth Adventure Trust volunteer and adventurer Wendy Searle has become the 7th woman to ski solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. Wendy completed the expedition in just 42 days, 16hrs, 23mins, becoming the 4th fastest solo unsupported female by skiing 720 miles, consuming 258,000 calories – with 0 rest days!

By completing this extraordinary Antarctic challenge, Wendy has demonstrated incredible resilience and mental toughness – exactly the skills that our young people learn on the Youth Adventure Programme. She is raising funds for Youth Adventure Trust and ABF, the Soldier’s Charity, to inspire others that the extraordinary is available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.

“It was a really long journey to get to the South Pole, not just on Antarctica itself, but it was also 5 years of planning, training and fundraising to get to the start. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, to find the courage every day to carry on despite incredibly difficult physical challenges. All this hard work was worth it though, to be able to support two incredible and worthwhile charities.”

[Photo credit Wendy Searle/South Pole 2020]

Natatia was inspired to set herself a challenge after listening to an interview with American ultramarathon runner David Goggins, where he talked about how transformational discomfort can truly be. He asked the question “What is it that you have never wanted to do?” – and Natatia realised she was going to have to run a marathon!

Pushing herself to the limit by doing something outside of her comfort zone is at the heart of what Youth Adventure Trust is all about, and Natatia chose a lovely scenic marathon as her first!

“I know from my own experiences that taking on large amounts of responsibility at a young age can be very lonely and extremely tiresome, and giving children a place to not only be free of these responsibilities but also to meet peers who are able to understand and appreciate their struggles is an invaluable service.”

In June, volunteer mentor Shaun braved a 130ft abseil down the Jury’s Inn Hotel, Swindon, to raise £395 for YAT, alongside his mentee Christopher, who was fundraising towards a school trip to Kenya next year.

“It was great to do the abseil together! My mentee Chris did himself (and me) proud. Despite a few jitters at the top he fully committed and did the whole thing like a walk in the park.”

Jake Greenwood undertook an incredible 100km Ultra Challenge along the Cotswold Way, hiking through night and day on one of the hottest weekends of the year to raise £1,602 for Youth Adventure Trust!

“I wanted to work with a charity that helps give young people the opportunity to rewrite their narrative and live fully. I loved the idea of taking on an outdoor challenge to help young people take on their own challenge – and giving them access to the childhood adventures I had. I want to give them the power of the outdoors. Everyone deserves it.”