Hiking the Bob Graham for 1st Stretford Scouts

This year is my 50th. Seeing as my life has been one long party to date, I've decided to do something far more worthwhile to celebrate.

I'm going to hike the Bob Graham Round as a 5 day challenge:

~70 miles through the Cumbrian Mountains with 8,230 m/27,000 ft ascent over 42 Lake District peaks.

Hiking with full kit. Sleeping in the mountains. Solo (well, mostly...).

I wanted to dedicate my trip to a cause that means a huge amount to me:

1st Stretford (Longford) Scout Group

I'm humbly asking anyone who will listen, to help me raise funds for this most excellent organisation, in which I've been lucky enough to be a Scout Leader for many years. Our volunteer Leaders help young people in our community gain skills for life every day, 5 days a week (often 7...), 52 weeks a year, whatever the weather!

Formed in 1908 1st Streford Scout Group is recognised as one of the first Scout Troops in the UK.

We currently have over 245 members across Beavers, Cubs, Scouts & Explorers.

Over an average year, we help our young people achieve a staggering amount:

~850 nights away from home under canvas.

~350 hours on the water kayaking, canoeing and rafting.

Thousands of fires lit & camp meals cooked, arrows shot, axes thrown, kilometres hiked, wide-games played & badges earned.

Hundreds of maps read, climbs climbed, creative projects completed, wild food meals foraged.

When the cloud of COVID came, we never missed a beat, delivering 5580 hours of virtual Scouting to our community's young people when they needed it the most.

We are currently busting at the seams of our scout hut & have just taken on extra building space to help provide even more to our young members. Our volunteers are working hard to renovate the ageing 'Ranche' in Streford's Longford Park that we call home.

Every penny I can raise will go to help the 1st Stretford Scout Group and its volunteers directly, building an even bigger and more inclusive future for our community's young people. Your donations to the group will support our building fund project and can also help to support match funding for any grants we apply for. This allows us to make even the smallest donation work twice as hard!

We understand that times are tight & want to reassure you that every contribution makes a difference, no matter how small (even if it's just the price of that pint you were planning to buy me for my birthday:)).

Thanks!

Owen