Megahike. Mega lessons.
The Megahike event at the end of June, for which we provided standby rescue cover, was a lesson to us – and probably all teams – in the organisation of a challenge event, which also appears to successfully make a great deal of money.
Rossendale & Pendle received a donation of £2000 for our part in the day – which involved a large number of team members giving up a very large part of their weekend (and this only the weekend before our own major fundraising event, the Rossendale Way in a Day, also a very long day).
To complete the Megahike, entrants had to complete the 50 mile (80 km) route in 24 hours – and before the sun sets. So, each team had around 17 hours of daylight to beat the sun! Teams of four, consisted of a team captain, and three team members and at least one support team member with a vehicle, were required to raise a minimum of £1500 just to enter.
On the day, 29 teams of four set off at the break of dawn. Now we do understand that there is still sponsorship monies to come in and be counted, and that there are also outgoing costs involved, but stacked up against even our best efforts at team fundraising, we've much to learn and a long way to go! Bearing in mind our aspirations for a shiny new base – and the several hundred grand we need to raise to build it – perhaps we should apply the 'raise money to enter' principle to our Rossendale Way in a Day (and other) events?
The Megahikers left Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough to trek along the Pennine Way, taking in Blackstone Edge and Hebden Bridge, and on to Widdop reservoir. After crossing Heptonstall and Worsthorne moors, they headed back down to Holme Chapel for a hot meal and brief respite, then on down the Pennine Bridleway through the Rossendale Valley, summitting the highest point of Megahike, 'Top of Leach' (474m). From there they set off across Whitworth and Crook moors, for the final thirteen miles, before reaching the village of Summit, and heading home for another hot meal! A cool 50 miles under the belt, with a height gain of over 2,500 metres (7,900ft)!
Open to anyone over seventeen years of age (sixteen if accompanied by an adult), this was a fantastic and challenging team event for friends, clubs and social groups, as well as corporate organisations looking to create some real team bonding or just some light hearted internal rivalry. This year's Megahike was the first in aid of MedEquip4Kids.
Congratulations to the 116 people who took part. In the words of the organisers, 'it was an incredible weekend and the effort every single one of our participants put in to walking 50 miles in 24 hours was simply inspirational!'
MedEquip4Kids helps sick and injured children, in and out of hospital. The charity works in partnership with hospitals to improve the care available to children when they suffer illness or have been involved in accidents, by providing paediatric specific medical equipment and funding for projects that enhance the hospital environment for the benefit of children and their families. In many cases this reduces the time spent by children in hospital.
MedEquip4Kids also supports community health projects that enable children whenever possible to be treated at home. This helps to reduce the inevitable stress for children and their families that can surround a stay in hospital.
Many thanks to Megahike for the donation - we look forward to working with you again next year.
For more information about the Megahike, go to http://charityadventures.co.uk/megahike/ and for more Rossendale & Pendle team news, views and pix, check out our page on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com
posted Monday, July 20, 2009