Hey beautiful people. Over the next 10 months I'm going to be doing a bunch of challenges and prepping myself for Machu Picchu in June & July 2024. I'm heading over to Peru to host 2 yoga retreats, so I've decided to volunteer my interpreting skills afterwards so we'll all be hiking up Machu Picchu! So yeah, I'll be doing the 5 day Salkantay Trail twice up the altitude... *slow blinks* with 44 deaf people.

I've decided to choose GDA (Gloucestershire Deaf Association) as my chosen charity to fundraise for over the months. This is a small charity close to my heart. I see how hard the team work behind the scenes to support the local deaf community. Honestly, they really do go above & beyond so it makes sense to give back in the little crazy ways I can.

COMPLETED ✔️ Back in September I did the 3 Peak Challenge of hiking 3 mountains in 3 countries in less than 24 hours! Achieving this in 22 hours 59 minutes (would’ve been less if we knew to pre book parking for snowdon in advance so we didn’t have to walk an extra 30 mins)

COMPLETED ✔️ 13 day Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. Wow this was ridiculously hard. I honestly could have quit but the fact I have a fundraiser kept me going… this trek was no joke. Everyday provided different terrains. Beautiful views. Amazing experience. But yeah… hardcore!

COMPLETED ✔️ 5 day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu with a group of 21 of us! 19 deaf + 2 interpreters (Bethaney & Anna Haig). It was a mix of mountains, jungle, sun, rain, everything! Long and enduring but we made it to Machu Picchu. Standing in the rain for 2.5 hours learning about the culture and history of the Inca kingdom! Unforgettable memory for sure!

NEXT CHALLENGE… I’ve got to do it all over again with a group of 25! In July we will be repeating the same trek but with a new fresh faces. Wish us luck!

Let's GO! Vamos!

Update!

44 deaf yogi's are going to be hiking for 5 days up to Machu Picchu in Peru!

We're excited to be doing this in June and July 2024. Hiking up amongst the mountains, ruins and altitudes. We will be going through the Salkantay pass which is 4600 metres above sea level on the way to our final destination - Machu Picchu! The Lost Kingdom of the Incas!

If you'd like to support us along our journey then please check out the other challenges we will be doing solo, with friends or a group over the next few months as preparation for this magical huge challenge!

Update! Team June have completed the 5 day hike in awful rainy weather in the mountains followed by hot jungle hikes! Well done team - in total we had 19 deaf hikers arrive at Machu Picchu! With Bethaney and Anna as interpreters. Everyone stood in the rain for 2.5 hours at the top of Machu Picchu learning about the history and culture! Safe to say we all deserved a hot drink or beer after that. Our guide told us that because it was raining at Machu Picchu it meant it was most likely snowing at the Salkantay pass (day 2) and he was right! Full of snow.. we just missed it. But then I remembered I have to take another team up there soon. Eek!

Now for round 2 - July group let’s go

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A little background on why I'm so immersed in the deaf community if you don't know me very well and why I've chosen this charity.

I'm a CODA (a Child of Deaf Adults), I'm actually the only hearing one in the family, so I grew up in a deaf household with my parents and siblings. British Sign Language is my first language. My beautiful family has now grown over the years and I have deaf in-laws and a deaf niece & nephew. My best friends are deaf. I work in the deaf community as a British Sign Language Interpreter. I am also a yoga teacher who makes yoga accessible in British Sign Language. This is my world and I've witnessed a lot of barriers for deaf people throughout my life, so for me charities like these who are providing accessibility and support in many ways are real close to my heart. Especially when I see all the hard work that goes on in the background to keep maintaining services.

I work locally for this charity and I see the graft and hard work that they put in to make sure that the deaf community are at the core of everything. I would love it if I could raise them some money in some way. They provide services for wellbeing, employment, interpreting, volunteering, equipment services, the list goes on and more. There's a lot that they do which isn't covered or funded because they really do have deaf people at the heart. They support people who are deaf, hard of hearing & run children clubs for deaf kids. It's places like these that make a huge difference on a daily basis.

If you want to join me on any of my fundraising challenges - holla! Let's share the love xoxox

I'll be sharing my journey on my instagram @thesigningyogi and on Facebook ' Sign Yoga '