On this fully supported trek you will climb five mountains over 1,000m in North Wales all within a weekend!

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Marjory Fox
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On this fully supported trek you will climb five mountains over 1,000m in North Wales all within a weekend! The team meet at Wrexham military barracks which will be our home for the weekend.

You ll make your way to Wrexham on Thursday evening where you ll meet the team.

1 On this fully supported trek you will climb five mountains over 1,000m in North Wales all within a weekend! The team meet at Wrexham military barracks which will be our home for the weekend. The accommodation is basic with several dorm style single sex rooms with hot showers and an onsite bar! This challenge is a tough weekend trek and you will deserve that drink in the bar each evening! You ll make your way to Wrexham on Thursday evening where you ll meet the team. This evening is all about preparation with a team briefing, kit check, evening meal and then to the bar to socialise and get to know your fellow trekkers. Friday we transfer by minibus to Llanfairfechan which is on the north coast of Wales. From here we will start our walk gently building up height over 11km to get to the highest point of the day Carnedd Llewelyn (1,064m). If the weather is kind you will see stunning views of valleys and lakes as we head along a ridge ticking off the second mountain Carnedd Dafydd (1,044m)! Today will take us between 7-8 hours to complete before we head back to our accommodation for a hot shower, evening meal and well deserved drink. Saturday is an early start as it will take the team around hours to complete our challenge. We transfer to where we finished yesterday - Pont Pen y Benglog. From here it is a steady but steep walk up past the stunning Llyn Bochlwyd lake that is surrounded by the towering Glyder Mountains that we will summit. Continuing up the steep rocky path we summit Glyder Fach (994m) which although isn t one of our official peaks is so close to another 1000m summit. It is only a short walk to our third mountain, Glyder Fawr (1,001m) where you can take a truly stunning picture standing on the famous balancing stone that you see in many pictures of Wales. From this high point we head down over rocky ground following the Afon Las stream down to the main road. We meet our transport at this point for a short 15 minute transfer to Pen y Pass to start the final leg of the day and most challenging as we trek to our ultimate prize and highest mountain in Wales Snowdon! The path is well defined but hard on the legs as steps of varying sizes make your legs burn. Lower down you will see the reservoir Llyn LLydaw on our left and Crib Goch the knife edge mountain on our right. With sweets at hand and plenty of encouragement we pass the standing stone before reaching the fourth summit, Garnedd Ugain (1,065m). Our fifth mountain, Snowdon, is now in sight and your Sea to Summit challenge is almost complete. After thirty minutes trekking we reach the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon (1,085m), with its breathtaking panoramic view.

It s now back to our accommodation for a slap up celebratory meal, presentation and time to swap stories and photos of the

2 After some celebratory hugs, a few tears and a bite to eat we descend via the Miners track which passes past the old Britannia copper mine and back to our transport. It s now back to our accommodation for a slap up celebratory meal, presentation and time to swap stories and photos of the weekend! Sunday we will awake with some aches but a great sense of achievement. After a full English breakfast to replenish our energy reserves we say goodbye to old and new friends before heading home.

3 Day 1 17km (10.5miles) - 8 hours Foel Fras 3,090ft/942m Carnedd Gwenllian 3,038ft/926m Foel Grach 3,202ft/976m Carnedd Llyewelyn 3,490ft/1,064m Carnedd Dfydd 3,425ft/1,044m Pen y Ole Wen 3,209ft/978m Day2 18km (11.5 miles) - 10 hours Glyder Fawr 3,284ft/1,001m Garnedd Ugain 3,494ft/1,065m Snowdon 3,560ft/1,085m What s included: Experienced safety team Transport throughout the challenge Parking at Wrexham Qualified first aid staff All meals Three nights accommodation (dorm style rooms) What s not: Snacks Personal insurance Personal equipment (waterproofs, boots etc) To take part you will need to pay a registration fee of 20, tour costs of 100 eight weeks before the challenge (this pays for your guides, food, accommodation and travel) and pledge to raise an additional 200 in sponsorship to help fund WellChild nurses and garden/bedroom makeovers. To participate, you must be at least 18 years old.

Growing numbers of children and young people are living across the UK with serious illness or exceptional health needs.

Through our expert WellChild Nurses, home and garden makeover projects and family support networks, WellChild strives to get these children and young people home and give them the best chance to

$Ibraheem suffers from brittle bones, leading to many bone fractures and a brain disorder that profoundly affects his ability to walk, talk, sleep and eat.$

4 Growing numbers of children and young people are living across the UK with serious illness or exceptional health needs. Many spend months, even years in hospital simply because there is no support enabling them to leave. Through our expert WellChild Nurses, home and garden makeover projects and family support networks, WellChild strives to get these children and young people home and give them the best chance to thrive together with their families. Since the age of three years old, Ibraheem has suffered from a succession of life limiting diagnoses including two genetic conditions. Ibraheem suffers from brittle bones, leading to many bone fractures and a brain disorder that profoundly affects his ability to walk, talk, sleep and eat. It has been a difficult and traumatic time for the family their house has needed to be adapted and Ibraheem has had to change schools and be statemented. Thanks to WellChild Nurse Mika, Ibraheem s quality of life at home has dramatically improved thanks to her specialist knowledge and skills. She has a really good relationship with Ibraheem and visits him regularly. For Ibraheem s family, Mika has been an important life line and always on the other end of the phone if needed. Due to advances in medicine and medical practice, the numbers of children and young people living with serious illness and exceptional health needs is growing every year. Set against a backdrop of an NHS under increasing resource pressure, WellChild s work is more important than ever. Last year we reached over 1,200 children and young people. But this is just over 1% of the estimated 100,000 across the UK that desperately need our help. With little Government assistance, WellChild relies almost entirely on the generosity of our supporters. With your help, we can reach more children, young people and families than ever before.

Days trekking: 2 days Max Altitude: 3,560t/1,085m Endurance Factor: Hard THURSDAY 1800hrs 1930hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Arrive at Wrexham barracks Evening meal Briefing of event and kit check Relax in the

FRIDAY 0600hrs 0700hrs 0900hrs 1800hrs 2000hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Breakfast To the minibuses Start walk Finish walk Arrive back at accommodation Evening meal Relax in the bar This will be your first

SATURDAY 0500hrs 0600hrs 0800hrs 1800hrs 2000hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Breakfast To the minibuses Start walk Finish walk Arrive back at accommodation Celebratory meal Relax in the bar With an early start

5 Days trekking: 2 days Max Altitude: 3,560t/1,085m Endurance Factor: Hard THURSDAY 1800hrs 1930hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Arrive at Wrexham barracks Evening meal Briefing of event and kit check Relax in the bar This evening you ll get to know your fellow trekkers and prepare for the weekend walking. FRIDAY 0600hrs 0700hrs 0900hrs 1800hrs 2000hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Breakfast To the minibuses Start walk Finish walk Arrive back at accommodation Evening meal Relax in the bar This will be your first days walk to test your fitness and kit in readiness for the big trekking day tomorrow. SATURDAY 0500hrs 0600hrs 0800hrs 1800hrs 2000hrs 2100hrs 2200hrs Breakfast To the minibuses Start walk Finish walk Arrive back at accommodation Celebratory meal Relax in the bar With an early start this is the biggest trekking day where we will walk over the famous Gylder range, descend to the main road and then summit the highest mountain in Wales - Snowdon! SUNDAY 0800hrs 0900hrs 0930hrs Breakfast Presentation with challenge Certificates & finishers T-shirt Team picture and travel home After a full English breakfast we ll have a short presentation to receive your completion certificates and T-shirt. It s then time for a team picture and home to put your feet up.

What s included in the cost of the challenge? Full safety team. Transport throughout the challenge. Parking at our accommodation. Group first aid. All meals. 3 night s dormitory style accommodation.

6 What s included in the cost of the challenge? Full safety team. Transport throughout the challenge. Parking at our accommodation. Group first aid. All meals. 3 night s dormitory style accommodation. What isn t included? Transport to Wrexham. Snacks. Personal insurance. What do I need to do to take part? Pay a 20 registration fee, pay 100 tour costs eight weeks before the challenge (this pays for food, accommodation, transport, guides etc) and pledge to attempt to raise an additional 200 in sponsorship. Provide your own kit (including sturdy ankle high walking boots). Personal travel insurance is optional and at your discretion. Bring money to pay for extra food and drink during the weekend. How is the team supported? Before the challenge you will have regular contact and updates from the Challenge Events Manager. There will also be an opportunity to test your fitness and meet up in the Brecon Beacons with other team members. You will receive training and fundraising advice once signed up and can contact the Challenge Events Manager if you have any questions. During the challenge our safety team will lead the walk and guide you throughout the event. You will receive regular safety and weather updates throughout the challenge and can ask our experienced team if you need specific advice. What if I can t complete the challenge? We will do everything we can to support you leading up to and during the challenge. It is a real test of mental strength and stamina to complete the challenge and is no walk in the park. You will need to train hard beforehand ensuring you complete at least one test weekend of walking eight hours per day for two consecutive days. The team is split up into faster and slower teams and if you need to move between groups this will be accommodated when practical. However if you find you cannot continue or have injured yourself there are set turn around points during the challenge where a member of the safety team can return with any participants. What happens if I m injured? Any outdoor activity has a risk however if you are injured the safety team has qualified first aid cover and equipment. The team uses two way radios and has a support vehicle at the bottom of each mountain that coordinates any incidents. The safety team leader is there to ensure your safety and it is your responsibility to listen to their instructions.

How fit do I need to be? The trek is both a mental and physical challenge. You will need to train beforehand and it is unrealistic to think you can complete the event without any training.

7 How fit do I need to be? The trek is both a mental and physical challenge. You will need to train beforehand and it is unrealistic to think you can complete the event without any training. Once signed up you will receive further training advice and recommendations on equipment e.g. walking boots. Ideally you need to be able to complete an eight hour walk on two consecutive days to be ready for this challenge. It s not about being ready now to walk the event but plan your training to be ready over the coming months. If you have a health condition you should consult your doctor before taking part. What clothing and equipment do I need? Once signed up you will receive a full kit list but the main clothing and equipment is a pair of waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, 25-35L rucksack and well broken in walking boots. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable and changes rapidly. If you do not have all the items on the essential kit list e.g. ankle high boots and full waterproofs you will be unable to take part in the challenge for your own safety. Where do we sleep? We will be staying in single sex rooms in Wrexham barracks throughout the weekend. The accommodation is warm, has hot showers, very good food and a bar! How many people will take part and what are they like? There will be around men and women taking part aged 18+. There is no upper age limit but if you are over 65 you will need a doctor s note to state that there is no reason why you cannot take part. Some people come on their own or in teams but as everyone supports each other friendships are formed quickly. There will be many different levels of fitness within the group and initially the team will be equally split in two at the first mountain to manage and support everyone fully. I m worried about raising 200 in sponsorship? It may sound a lot but broken down into smaller chunks it is really achievable. We will send you a full pack on fundraising advice and the Challenge Events Manager is on hand to chat about your ideas and support you. Most people start with an online giving fundraising page that they can to all friends and family which usually achieves at least half of the target. It is then a great idea to hold some sort of fundraising event such as a summer BBQ where you invite friends to pay 5 for a burger and drink. We have lots of fundraising materials for you to use and expert advice over the phone. What happens if I don t raise the sponsorship money? It is best to keep in regular contact with the Challenge Events Manager so that they can support you fully but we ask that you pay the event costs 120 ( 20 registration fee and 100) eight weeks before the challenge and pledge to attempt to raise 200 to help us fund our WellChild Nurses and garden/bedroom makeovers. As long as you have paid the event costs you will still be able to take part in the challenge.

Mind Hike, The Lakes September 2017

I made new, life-long friends and smashed what I thought were my own personal limits. Mind Hike, The Lakes September 2017 Registration fee: 85 Minimum sponsorship 675 www.mind.org.uk/hike2017 Reg. Charity