Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.  Baker Tilly has a longstanding relationship with the DofE and has supported the charity over a number of years through various challenging fundraising activities.  We have now committed to partaking in The High Atlas Mountain Challenge with a view to raising further funds for this worthwhile charity.  We are being co-sponsored by Yeomans Outdoor Leisure who also enjoy a good working relationship with DofE, and we thank Yeomans for their kind support in the provision of some high quality clothing for our Challenge.

The High Atlas Challenge is certainly going to be just that - a Challenge.  A team of four of us will be competing in a race that will see us pushing ourselves way beyond our current physical capabilities. 

We shall be embarking on a journey across the mountains, involving up to 35 miles a day of mountain biking and trekking for four days running.  Temperatures could soar to 35C.  As well as these strenuous physical components of the challenge, we will also be partaking in demanding mental challenges.  We will be staying in basic tents at night, with temperatures potentially falling to sub-zero at night.  The arrangements are described as being "rustic" - broadly translated as there being no facilities whatsoever.  Did you know that you can have an all over body/hair wash with only 2 pints of water?  Neither did we.... 

And did we mention it was a race....?

On the bright side, apparently the local red wine is pleasant, and there will be plentiful supplies - I should imagine this is because we will all have passed out from exhaustion before drinking our first glass!  We will also be travelling through a stunning mountain range, which will undoubtedly offer fantastic views and experiences.

Needless to say, we are each embarking on rigorous individual training schedules: David and Ewan cycling through the Scottish hills on a regular basis and rather wishing they were at the golf course instead of cycling past it; Amanda spending her lunchtimes in the gym trying to get to grips with the "Hill Plus" function on the bike and wondering whether she will actually make it up a mountain; and Jill trying to improve her stamina - drinking stamina that is - by increasing her intake of rose wine!

In all seriousness, the team are starting to train with relish having realised the extent of the Challenge.  Indeed we have arranged a "trial run" in the Scottish Highlands in mid August with a cottage in Aviemore as base (no need to practise staying in a tent with no facilities after all!).  Surely hills can't get more challenging than those....  We shall no doubt be taking "action shots" whilst there so watch this space for amusing pictures of pre, during, and post training!

So why are we pushing ourselves to our limits (or beyond our limts in some instances....)?  The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a charity that helps change young people's lives for the better.  They develop skills, serve their communities, improve their fitness, discover new capabilities, make new friends and have fun.  As kinfe crime and drug related crimes are on the up in the UK, in particular for young people, we hope that by involving more people in the DofE this can be reduced.  Your sponsorship will help us to do just that - involving young people from athletes to young people with special needs.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

With thanks in anticipation of your kind donation

The Baker Tilly High Atlas Challenge Team, aka David, Ewan, Jill & Amanda