When charity begins… with a trek up Kilimanjaro

Are fundraising trips abroad simply cheap holidays – or do they provide tangible benefits? Trisha Andres reports

In the past five years, there has been a growing trend for fundraisers to sign up to charity challenges that push participants out of their comfort zones, often in far-flung destinations. While a cousin is trekking through desert, wadis and mountains from Dana to Petra in Jordan, a friend is being put through his paces on a climb up Kilimanjaro and an old colleague is posting Instagram stories of her cycle ride through Sri Lanka’s central highlands from the west coast to the south.

Confession: I have done one myself. Last summer, I went on a 500-mile, week-long charity cycling challenge that started in Basel in Switzerland, continued up the Alps and wended back to Lake Como in Italy. My friends and colleagues gave generously, but some did ask how exactly their money would be spent.

That’s a perfectly reasonable question. After all, there’s an overriding perception that charity challenges are simply a way for an individual to travel to far-off places and have a cheap holiday in the guise of doing good.

If you are on the receiving end of a donation request, you may also wonder: am I simply subsidising other people’s travel or really contributing to some good causes?

According to Charity Challenge and Discover Adventure, two tour operators that specialise in organising charity challenges, around 40 per cent of their participants self-fund. For instance, in my case, I paid the full package cost of my charity cycle, purchasing flights, food, activities and accommodation. I raised money as an added extra with no specific target that I was obliged to meet. All the sponsorship and fundraising proceeds went directly to the charity.

Another payment option, which 60 per cent of participants choose, is the “minimum sponsorship” method. This often involves paying a registration fee (anything from £100 to £500) and committing to raising a certain amount through fundraising and sponsorship. The target will typically be around £2,000 to £3,000 but may potentially be more depending on the nature of the trip. Expedition costs will be subtracted from this pot and the charity will keep the remainder, including whatever is raised beyond the target.

Moreover, challengers can decide to make another personal contribution to their travel costs prior to departure, which means the charity will end up subsidising a smaller share of the cost. The benefits are clear, but a fundraising trip isn’t something to commit to on impulse, with some challenges involving, for instance, cycling more than 50 miles a day and funds of up to £5,000. Yet, despite the commitment and cost, many people sign up year after year.

For some, the experience is lifeenhancing; for others, it has simply allowed them to raise funds and travel; and, for the select few, a single trip has converted them into lifelong altruistic adventurers.

If you’ve never tried it, below are our answers to some likely questions – and, on the following pages, 20 great charity challenges to consider: in support of a cause close to their heart.”

“Participants have typically been in their 30s and 40s but we are now seeing an increasing number of both younger and older challengers. Whatever age group, they tend to be adventurous, driven and looking to make a difference in their own way.”

‘It’s also about helping preserve local economies and giving back to the countries we visit’