CARE 3 Peaks Spain post-event report

15 brave participants from 5 UK based companies took on a extremely tough 3-day mountain challenge, raising ?30,000 in support of leading overseas development agency, CARE International - the 2007 CARE 3 Peaks Spain Challenge.

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The team conquer the highest peak - Mulhac?n
The Challenge, run by CARE International?s in-house Challenge Event team in collaboration with European charity event specialists Tall Stories for the third year running, took place over 3 days, from 6-8th September 2007, in Andalucia?s Sierra Nevada region. Participants were challenged with hiking and biking up mainland Spain?s 3 highest mountains ? Mulhac?n (3,483m), Alcazaba (3,371m) Veleta (339m) - with a cycling finale descent into Granada, the longest in Europe. Spurred on by clear blue skies and sunny conditions throughout, they ascended a total of 3,747 metres and covered a distance of 85km.

The group of 15 comprised 6 employees from London-based World Design and Trade, 4 employees from Northampton-based BarclayCard, 3 from Dorchester-based Acheson Construction, one from Durham-based Waterstons, and one from Heathrow-based Penauille Servisair.

Day 1 demanded a long uphill bike ride to a beautiful mountain-side refuge. All of the participants had flown from the UK that morning, so the climb was something of a shock to the system!

On Day 2, participants left their bikes at the refuge and embarked on a 10-hour circular walk, taking in Mulhac?n, the highest mountain in mainland Spain, and Alcazaba - the third highest mountain in mainland Spain. The clear blue sky presented fantastic views over the North Face of the mountain range, where the final destination of Granada could be seen in the distance.

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Celebrations at the finish!
There was no let up for the weary participants on Day 3, which started with a steep bike ascent, followed by a steady bike climb to the summit of Veleta, the second highest mountain in mainland Spain.  The hard work was worth it with the participants rewarded with both stunning views and a unforgettable descent into Granada, down the longest mountain bike descent in Europe. The adrenalin rush of this dramatic descent ensured a memorable finish to this premier European mountain challenge!

Participant Chris Davies from Barclaycard summed up the experience: 

?We are all pretty fit and active but the majority of us have not ridden a bicycle for about 15 years and so the Challenge certainly lived up to its name for us!  Despite our thorough training, looking back at what we did now, it seems hard to think that we actually achieved it.  Every element of the Challenge seemed to be tough ? even the downhill section on the bikes had its demands.?

Neil  Munro, Challenge Event Manager, who ran the event, added:

?We?re delighted with the success of this year?s CARE 3 Peaks Spain Challenge, the toughest in our portfolio, which just keeps on going from strength to strength. All participants did extremely well and the teambuilding spirit was terrific. This year?s fundraising total takes the total amount raised by this event to over ?75,000 in just three years. Congratulations and thank you to everyone for taking part."

Despite the hot conditions throughout the 3 days of the Challenge, 14 out of the 15 participants managed to complete the event, and made good time. Congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone for taking part, and we look forward to seeing you back on the mountains next year!

Next year?s CARE 3 Peaks Spain Challenge is scheduled for 11-14th September 2008, click here to register your interest.

 
 

CARE International UK Reg. Charity No. 292506. CARE International UK, 10-13 Rushworth Street, London SE1 0RB. Registered company limited by gurantee (England & Wales): 1911651. Website by Joomkit.

CARE challenge are an in-house charity fundraising team. We offer many exciting charity events that you can join. All our charity challenges offer amazing adventures outdoors and lots of our activities take place over adventure weekends. If charity runs are your thing, then we have lots to offer - 10K runs, half marathons and many other running events. Or, how about cycling events for charity? We certainly have lots to offer in the charity cycling department. There are charity rides where you can cycle London to Brighton or you can even do a charity bike ride from London to Paris, if London to Brighton isn't far enough! We also have some charity walks and hikes. Later this year we have a sponsored walk that is 25 miles long in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CARE International's UK office. If activities outdoors and adventure weekends get your adrenalin pumping, then why not sign up for one of our mountain challenges? We have numerous charity challenges on mountains over the year from three peaks challenges to 24 peaks challenges - if you think you're up to it! For many of our charity fundraising events you can register as a teamleader or part of a team. We believe our charity challenges offer great teambuilding activities and are really great for team events. So if you're interested in corporate team building through a great charity challenge then the CARE Challenge Series is for you. Click here to see all our charity challenges.