Last Saturday, 8 June, The Youth Adventure Trust comfortably exceeded its fundraising target of £12,000, reaching a total of £15,679 from the efforts of all the many participants who came together to make the second annual Wiltshire 3 Peaks Challenge such a great success.
One hundred and fifty two intrepid individuals including families, friends, colleagues and canine companions came together to take on the challenge and conquer three iconic peaks of Wiltshire, including Milk Hill, the county’s highest point.
Participants of all ages and fitness levels embraced the challenge and walked, ran and jogged 10K or a half marathon to raise an incredible sum that will support vulnerable young people with long-term, bespoke outdoor adventure and one to one support. This amount is equivalent to covering the cost of twenty eight youngsters attending their six day resilience building Mountain Camp this summer.
The event not only showcased the natural beauty of the region but also highlighted the resilience and generosity of its participants. It combined the Youth Adventure Trust’s hallmark of outdoor exploration and using challenge to exceed expectations while making a positive impact on vulnerable young people. By beating the fundraising target and raising so much money, participants will make a real difference to young people like Katie, age 13, who says about her time on the YAT Adventure Programme: “The biggest difference I have noticed is how resilient I am. I am more positive now and I keep on trying at things.”
The Youth Adventure Trust has been using outdoor adventure to inspire young lives for more than three decades. Since the Trust was formed, it has run 11,114 hours of activity on the YAT Adventure Programme, which equates to facilitating 428,000 hours of activity participation – the equivalent of 39 hours a day, every day for 30 years. The Trust is honoured to have been awarded the ‘Pride of Wiltshire’ in the 2023 Wiltshire Life Awards in recognition of their work in the county.
The Youth Adventure Trust is immensely grateful to Beard Construction for their generous sponsorship of the Wiltshire 3 Peaks Challenge. Jamie Harwood,Director of Beard says: “We were delighted to sponsor this well-organised event. It was fantastic for the Beard Team to take part – hiking together, getting to know each other and raising money for such a great charity. We’re really looking forward to supporting future events with the Youth Adventure Trust as our relationship continues to evolve”.
The Youth Adventure Trust would like to thank everyone who contributed – Tesco and Waitrose in Marlborough who provided the delicious refreshments, and the one hundred and fifty two participants who took part and raised so much money and the fabulous volunteers for their hard work and dedication.
The Wiltshire 3 Peaks Challenge not only provided a remarkable adventure but also paved the way for vulnerable young people to access life-changing opportunities. For more information about the Youth Adventure Trust and their work with 11-15 year olds in the county, click here to visit their website.