Breaking the cycle of poverty
Published: 31 March, 2009
It's now less than 3 months until teams from across the fashion and fashion retail sectors challenge themselves and challenge poverty in the Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge.
The event, taking place on 20th June 2009, will see teams taking on a triple challenge amid the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. The event incorporates hiking on the beautiful Brecon Beacons Horseshoe, a demanding mountain biking course around Talybont Reservoir and a high-energy canoe relay on Pontsticill Reservoir- in the target time of ten hours.
Teams from Timberland, Marks and Spencer, Gucci, Footwear Today, John Lewis Partners and more, have all signed up for the challenge, which will raise much-needed funds for overseas development agency CARE International. Also taking part will be a team of outdoor enthusiasts from ethical clothing company howies.
Team leader David Hicks explains howies' enthusiasm for taking part. "When we heard about the challenge it seemed a great way to combine people's outdoor interests with doing something really positive as a company... and knowing how beautiful that area of Wales is made it very appealing."
The event is demanding and the CARE Challenge Team recommend participants train beforehand to ensure a reasonable level of fitness. David's Cardigan Bay-based team have already planned their training. "Our team is made up of keen mountain bikers, hikers and one good paddler. So we'll be spending some more time on the Teifi Estuary and rock hopping down the coast as the weather warms up to prepare for the canoeing portion of the challenge. We also have great trails pretty close to Cardigan for mountain biking so hopefully that will get us safely through."
Team howies are also benefitting from the teambuilding side of the event preparations, as they work together on fundraising for CARE. David explains, "We're definitely looking forward to taking on the challenge as a strong team, and making sure we hit our fundraising target has really focused us. People are bringing different skill sets to the table which will help meet our targets before and during the event. Plus it's a great motivation for everyone to get out and cycle, paddle or hike."
The funds raised by teams will support CARE's poverty fighting work overseas. CARE is one of the top three aid agencies worldwide. Whether supporting primary health care, promoting sustainable agriculture, educating marginalised children or developing savings or loan schemes, CARE's programmes promote long-lasting change helping over 55 million people in 70 countries find a route out of poverty.
David and his team at howies have found CARE's work to be a fantastic motivation in the preparations for the challenge. "One if the most important aspects of CARE's work is that it isn't just hand outs and short term solutions to people who find themselves deep in poverty or subject to injustice. That CARE help people to help themselves strikes a chord with us. If we can help give those people a kick start by doing things we love (getting muddy on bikes, falling into lakes and experiencing beautiful scenery) then it's a win win situation."
Do you and your colleagues have what it takes to join David and the howies team in taking on the challenge? Sign up today. Challenge poverty and challenge yourself!
www.carechallenge.org.uk/primasolutions
Or call the CARE Challenge Team on 020 7934 9470.
