CARE 24 Peaks Challenge supported by Lexicon Partners post-event report

The biggest fundraiser so far in the CARE Challenge Series took place on 28th -29th June in the shape of the CARE 24 Peaks Challenge supported by Lexicon Partners. The total pledged by teams came to a fantastic £260,000, and participants more than earned their sponsorship donations throughout the event, with outstanding shows of determination, energy and team spirit.

The event, one of the toughest in the CARE Challenge Series, saw participants assembling for the start in Gatesgarth Farm before sunrise and luckily all teams took on the first challenge of the weekend - getting out of bed at 3am - with great success. The disappointingly grim weather conditions didn’t put anybody off, and every team left the start in the discouraging, grey drizzle fully prepared and in high spirits.

The weather continued to worsen for teams throughout Day One, with thick fog causing poor visibility and high winds impeding their progress. Admirably, they soldiered on regardless of the disappointment of not being able to enjoy the anticipated views of the Lake District. The relief of completing the first and most difficult day of the challenge was tangible as teams finally made it to the finish line at Stool End Farm, Exhausted but very pleased with themselves, teams made it back to their hotels and hostels for a few hours’ rest before the equally early start on Day Two.

The second day began with similarly dismal weather, as participants broke the back of Day Two by making it up Red Screes, the first mountain of the day and a steep adversary to take on so early in the morning after little sleep and an exhausting previous day. CARE staff were placed along the route to cheer teams on and offer encouragement until they made it to the top where the weather rapidly cleared, making way for exhilarating views to reward teams’ tenacity.

Thankfully the sunshine was there to stay, and blue skies and fantastic views served to cheer teams along throughout the day, coupled with encouragement over the radio from CARE staff and volunteers.  Twenty four mountain peaks from the start of day one, teams began to trickle over the finish line, some running, some limping, some braying for beer. Team Urban from Ashurst managed to complete the whole challenge in a staggering 16 hours and 10 minutes, beating the previous CARE 24 Peaks record by ten minutes!

Post-event celebrations took place in Windermere’s Low Wood Hotel, with enormous thanks going out to all participants, and especially to Lexicon Partners for their fantastic support of the event. Managing Director Matthew Lindsey-Clark presented the winning team, Ashurst, with a £10,000 cheque payable to CARE on Ashurst’s behalf. The Lexicon Bowl was also presented to Phoenix Equity for best overall team, and Punch Taverns won the Team Spirit award, and were presented with champagne.

The most significant award of all, however, went to Atrium’s team for the top fundraising total, following their fantastic pledge of over £25,000. A speech by CARE’s Marketing Director, Carol Monoyios, reminded participants of the value of their efforts, as she described the positive changes made to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people who have benefited from CARE’s work.

Celebrations went on into the early hours, with champagne generously supplied by Lexicon Partners helping to ease the pain from blisters and aching legs, which were seemingly forgotten by the end of the speeches as teams and support crews took to the dance floor with astonishing amounts of energy.

CARE’s Michele Evans summarised, “We couldn’t have asked for a better event. Despite the weather, it was a very enjoyable challenge - feedback from teams has been extremely positive and we very much hope they all carry out their stated intentions of returning to challenge themselves again next year! Our enormous thanks go to Lexicon Partners for their absolutely phenomenal support, to our wonderful volunteers and to all the teams who took part and put in so much effort with their fundraising. £260,000 will have a very significant and positive impact on CARE’s work overseas, and all our teams can be extremely proud of themselves for achieving this.”

Team Results

Company Name & Teamleader	Call Sign	Day 1 Start	Day 1 Finish	Day 2 Start	Day 2 Finish	Total
Ashurst - Daniel Lloyd	Urban	05:02	15:35	05:04	10:41	16:10
Lexicon Partners Team 2 - Jonathan Dunn	Conflict	05:10	16:27	05:04	12:21	18:34
Lexicon Partners Team 1 - Matthew Lindsey-Clark	Food	05:00	16:41	05:14	12:58	19:25
Phoenix Equity Partners Team 1 - Sandy Muirhead	Market	05:19	18:15	05:17	13:11	20:50
Barclays Private Equity - Dominic Greer	Justice	05:51	19:36	05:14	14:03	22:34
IG Group - Steve Clutton	Business	06:21	20:28	05:38	14:08	22:37
Maitland - David Waller	Finance	06:01	19:54	05:22	14:08	22:39
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer - Robert Stirling	Uganda	05:38	19:52	05:14	13:48	22:48
HSBC Team 2 - Graham Tufts	Shelter	05:50	19:34	05:14	14:26	22:56
Citygroupuk - Mike Irwin	India	06:25	21:57	05:21	14:16	24:27
UBS - David Waring	Nepal	06:36	22:13	05:37	14:36	24:36
Exponent - Richard Campin	Congo	05:37	20:43	05:46	15:37	24:57
Financial Dynamics - Caroline Parker	Jordan	06:45	21:35	05:38	16:01	25:13
Royal Bank of Canada - Phil Cutts	Peru	06:23	21:21	05:14	16:09	25:53
Osborne Clarke - Paul Cooper	Sudan	06:13	21:56	05:24	15:40	25:59
Phoenix Equity Partners Team 2 - Hugh Lenon	Health	05:20	20:57	05:31	15:58	26:04
Atrium Underwriting plc - Andrew Baddeley	Zambia	06:37	22:33	05:23	15:56	26:29
Blackwood Group - Eleanor Major	Charity	05:59	22:30	06:02	16:18	26:47
Lexicon Partners Team 3 - Amanda Quinlan	Farming	05:28	22:30	05:46	15:37	26:53
HSBC Team 1 - Craig Brown	Water	05:11	21:59	05:46	16:28	27:30
Punch Taverns PLC - Simon Odell	Trade	05:39	22:34	05:31	16:23	27:47