I’m taking part in the 35 mile Ten Tors Trek, a weekend fundraising challenge to help the Friends of South Dartmoor Academy provide greater opportunities for students to take part in outdoor educational experiences, such as the Ten Tors Challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. The Trek is a challenging 35 or 45 mile trek that mimics the same challenge students complete in the Ten Tors, so we will complete a weekend of hiking, map reading, teamwork and wild camping. Training has been going well and we’ve also had our first weekend training session in very trying conditions!

All the monies raised in this challenge will go towards loanable kit like camping gear, rucksacks and tents; and to also support students in outdoor pursuits training. Funding for these types of opportunities isn’t provided through normal streams, which is why it’s so important to help in this initiative to give every child the opportunity to do them without any financial barriers.

If you can donate towards giving children the prospect to learn leadership and outdoor skills, gain confidence and open their eyes to greater opportunities, then I, the Academy, and especially the students, would be most grateful.