17 supporters complete Himalayan challenge and raise £40,000 for The Albion Foundation
Seventeen dedicated supporters have successfully completed the five-day Dalai Lama Himalayan Trek in support of The Albion Foundation, raising an incredible £40,000 so far to help us continue changing lives across our community.
After months of training, fundraising and preparation, the group travelled to India on Tuesday 22 September to take on one of our toughest fundraising challenges to date. Across five unforgettable days, they tackled steep climbs, long hours on the trail and challenging weather, all while supporting one another every step of the way.
Donations are still open, with supporters still able to help grow the fundraising total through the trekkers' fundraising page.
Alongside the physical challenge, the team experienced breathtaking scenery, visited remote mountain communities and created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Jonathan Ward, Deputy Director of The Albion Foundation, said:
"I am incredibly proud of every single person who took part in this challenge.
Over the five days, our trekkers showed tremendous determination, resilience and teamwork, overcoming difficult conditions while continually supporting one another.
Raising £40,000 so far is an outstanding achievement and highlights the generosity of everyone who has supported the challenge. Thank you to each trekker, every donor and everyone who has helped make this journey possible.
Most importantly, the money raised will help us continue delivering life-changing opportunities and support across our community.
On a personal level, it has been a truly unforgettable experience. Seeing the commitment people have shown to helping others through The Albion Foundation has been incredibly inspiring."
For Mike Moren, who has now completed all four of the Foundation's international trekking challenges alongside Dean Walton, Trevor Bailey and Jonathan Ward, the lasting memories are not just about the mountains conquered or the miles covered.
"The Albion Foundation is a family, and you feel that from the moment these challenges begin.
Many of us started the trek as strangers, but it did not take long for everyone to come together, support each other and share plenty of laughs along the way.
Across all four treks, that sense of togetherness has always stood out. We all come from different backgrounds, but we share a common goal of supporting the Foundation and the people it helps.
The friendships you build and the experiences you share are what stay with you long after the trek is over."
Fellow trekker and Her Game Too Ambassador Vicky Haddock kept a diary throughout the challenge. Here, she reflects on five unforgettable days in the Himalayas, the people she met and the memories she will take home with her.
More than just a Trek.
While reaching the finish line was an incredible achievement, this challenge was about much more than the miles covered.
From sharing meals around campfires to experiencing local culture and building lasting friendships, every day brought new memories, new challenges and new opportunities to step outside our comfort zones.
The group laughed together, supported one another through difficult moments and celebrated every milestone along the way. By the end of the trek, many who had arrived as strangers were leaving as friends.
A special thank you goes to Sian and her Charity Challenge team in India, alongside Jonathan, Steve and Sophie from The Albion Foundation, for their support throughout the challenge. We would also like to thank the guides, cooks and wider support team whose hard work made the experience so memorable.
Some of us began this journey as strangers. We finished it having shared something we will always have in common.
I took on this trek to challenge myself physically and mentally, but also to raise awareness and funds for The Albion Foundation and the work it does across the community.
Every step, every climb and every tired leg had a purpose. That is what made reaching the finish so meaningful and why these five days will stay with me forever.
Most importantly, every step taken helped raise vital funds that will enable The Albion Foundation to continue delivering programmes, opportunities and support that positively impact people across Sandwell and the wider community.
Support our Trekkers.
We would like to say a huge thank you to all 17 trekkers, the Charity Challenge team and everyone who has supported this incredible fundraising challenge.
Together, they have raised £40,000 so far, with donations still open. Every contribution will help us continue making a positive difference across our local community while recognising the remarkable achievement of our trekkers.
In her own words: Vicky Haddock's Himalayan Trek Diary
After months of training, fundraising and preparing, I can finally say that I have completed the five-day Dalai Lama Himalayan Trek in support of The Albion Foundation.
It has been everything I hoped it would be: challenging, exhausting, occasionally very wet, but also filled with unforgettable experiences and plenty of moments that made us laugh.
What began as a group coming together for a shared challenge quickly became a team, supporting each other through steep climbs, tired legs and the inevitable moments when we questioned exactly what we had signed ourselves up for.
Here is a look back at our five days in the Himalayas.
Day One
Our first day began with a steep ascent from Jogindarnagar through oak and rhododendron forests. We followed a disused railway line for approximately a kilometre towards Haribag Pass, taking in the Uhl Valley and part of an ancient trading route.
After passing through Barua, we stopped for a picnic lunch in Badan. We were quite literally sitting amongst the clouds, with views across the surrounding mountains. Himalayan griffon vultures and golden eagles circled above us, making an already special lunch stop even more memorable.
After around seven hours of trekking, we arrived at camp, where our tents had been pitched overlooking the mountains below.
We celebrated Sophie's birthday with a quiz, followed by a beautiful sunset and time around the campfire. Venus was visible in the evening sky, rounding off a challenging but brilliant first day.
Day Two
Day two brought approximately eight and a half hours on the trail. We walked alongside local shepherds and villagers, passing cabbage fields and small mountain communities. Some of the group even had the opportunity to hold a baby goat.
Then we came across three local people carrying a guitar, and one of the most memorable moments of the trip unfolded.
We sat in the mountains listening to Jude Thompson play and sing, with everyone joining in, before one of our group leaders, Bobby, performed a rap. One of the local people responded with a traditional folk song. Sharing music from different cultures in the middle of the Himalayas was a moment none of us could have planned.
The route became more demanding, with narrow paths and difficult conditions, before the heavens opened.
We passed through villages around Tikken and crossed Sun Pass, following the Thadkot River past terraced fields and small hamlets towards Barot Valley. Along the way, we encountered something none of us expected halfway up a mountain: a crab. After that, we began to think anything was possible.
By the time we reached camp, we were drenched, wearing waterproofs that had proved otherwise. Thankfully, our tents were comfortable and even had individual en-suite bathrooms, although this meant a tap and a bucket. After hours in the rain, it felt like luxury.
That evening, we started a group tradition of "Rose and Thorn". Everyone shared their favourite moment of the day, their rose, and their biggest challenge, their thorn.
Somehow, I also became the group's unofficial secretary, responsible for recording the important moments of our adventure.
Day Three
We woke to views across the valley that made it feel as though we had stepped into Jurassic Park. Thankfully, there were no dinosaurs, although after the previous day's crab discovery, nothing would have surprised us.
Day three involved approximately nine hours of trekking. By now, the accumulated hours and climbs were making themselves known, and encouragement from the people around us mattered more than ever.
The trek was becoming about much more than reaching our next destination. We were meeting local communities, experiencing life in the mountains and sharing moments we could never have imagined before setting off.
Day Four
Day four offered a choice: a rest day or a demanding optional trek of more than 12 kilometres to the 3,050m summit of Hanuman Garh Mountain.
Some of the team chose a shorter local walk, spending time with shepherds and learning more about the surrounding community before rejoining the rest of us later in the day.
For those taking on the longer route, the day began with a particularly steep ascent. We had packed for the cold conditions we had been warned to expect, but instead found ourselves walking in surprising heat.
Around eight hours on the trail brought its challenges, but the panoramic mountain views made the effort worthwhile.
Coming back together as a full group was a highlight. We met at one of the temples associated with the Seven Sister Goddesses, where Ajay, our guide, shared stories about their significance to local communities and their connections with nature and the weather.
It was an opportunity to pause, listen and learn more about the traditions of the people who call these mountains home.
We returned together for our evening meal and another night at the hunting lodge.
Day Five
Our final day took us towards Billing, with approximately seven hours of trekking.
We began with an 11-kilometre gradual descent, enjoying views that had been hidden by the weather earlier in the trip. Our route took us towards Shilpadhani, a small village surrounded by woodland, and offered glimpses of the lives of the Gaddi shepherds who move through these mountains.
We stopped for group photographs, with snow-capped peaks in the distance, trying to take in the fact that our challenge was nearly complete.
Lunch at a paragliding centre brought another remarkable meal from our cooks: lentils, rice and vegetables, fresh watermelon and even a jam and berry tart. Throughout the trek, we had been amazed by what they managed to prepare in the most unlikely locations. Their care and hard work made a real difference after long days on our feet.
On the final stretch, we visited a temple associated with the youngest of the Seven Sister Goddesses. After prayers and blessings, we began winding our way towards the finish.
Then we heard drums.
The Charity Challenge team were waiting with a dhol player, a banner and, most importantly, our medals. After five days of trekking, we had made it.
We returned to the Dream and Adventure Centre for a celebratory meal, with the achievement finally beginning to sink in.
The Team Behind the Challenge.
A special thank you to the 17 incredible supporters who took on the Dalai Lama Himalayan Trek in support of The Albion Foundation:
Vicky Haddock, Dean Walton, Trevor Bailey, Mike Moren, Jamie More, Jude Thompson, Lee Stanton, Dave Langran, Peter Geobey, Teresa Lippitt, Andy Wake, Mark Wood, Sheena Mobberley, Claire Byatt, Sophie Osborn, Steve Meeson, Jonathan Ward.
Together, they have raised more than £40,000 to support The Albion Foundation's work across our communities. Thank you for your dedication, determination and support.
