Climb your own mountain

20th August 2010

For Lake District Calvert Trust............

The Lake District Calvert Trust, world-pioneering charity for people with disabilities, is undertaking a 'Climb Your Own Mountain' Event on Sunday, 29th August 2010, in order to draw attention to its ambitious £3.7 million Extending Equal Chance Appeal.

The Trust has been providing challenging outdoor activity breaks for those with disabilities for over 30 years and is one of very few UK Centres equipped to work with people with the most profound and complex disabilities. Since its inception in the early 70's it has been instrumental in providing life-changing adventurous activities to more than 65,000 people with disabilities from all across the UK/

The Extending Equal Chance Appeal has been raising money for the past 3 years in order to

• improve the Trusts' on-site facilities
• initiate a UK-wide Outreach Programme to support  other providers and organisations to become more accessible
• to provide Cumbria with a unique sensory Water Centre that may well become the 'gold-standard' for accessible swimming pools across the UK and indeed internationally.

To date, and thanks to significant grants from the North West Development Agency, Sport England, other organisations, almost £3.3 m has already been raised. Significant sums have also come from visitors and community users. The Trust hopes the remaining £400,000 will come from local supporters and businesses.

To launch the Extending Equal Chance Appeal, the Trust will be releasing 370 white 'biodegradable' Calvert Trust balloons from the Gale Road car park at the foot of Latrigg/Skiddaw on the 29th August, each balloon representing £100,000 of the money required to meet their fundraising target. More importantly, however, is the sentiment behind the balloon release and the subsequent climb. Centre Director, Sean Day said, 'Every one of us in life finds ourselves faced with mountains to climb. Some require us to draw upon a hidden strength that helps us face our adversity and come out on top. For people with disabilities, the mountains they face can be far tougher than we may imagine'. The 'Climb Your Own Mountain' Event is not just about fundraising, it is about highlighting to everyone just how hard it can be to face everyday life with a disability, and how life-changing it can be to meet the challenge and achieve success.
 
On the 29th August, 13 people with disabilities, together with supportive teams of volunteers and Trust staff, will attempt to face and conquer the challenge of getting to the top of a mountain - whether it be Skiddaw, Latrigg, or just simply walking a few steps across a car park. The point of it all is that, with a little bit of help and creative equipment adaptation, they WILL meet their personal challenge in the end. As the Trust always says, 'it's what you CAN do that counts!' 

We would like to invite you to undertake a 'Climb Your Own Mountain' Event either on 29th August, or at anytime, in support of the Lake District Calvert Trust. Contact the Fundraising Manager, Ruth Jeffcoate on 017687 72255 for a sponsorship pack and tell us what the 'mountain' is you would like to climb, or come and volunteer to assist our participants up their mountains on the 29th. Alternatively, support us by making a donation by visiting www.BigGive.org.uk and entering 'The Lake District Calvert Trust'.  For more information about The Calvert Trust or call 017687 72255.