I will be undertaking a 25km cross country ski and 35km dog sled race, alongside ice fishing and orienteering in the arctic wilderness, with only 3 hours of sunlight a day, to raise money for the National Literacy Trust. 

The National Literacy Trust is a charity committed to improving the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of children, young people and families in the UK’s poorest communities.

Along with three other Penguins, I’m about to embark on the epic Arctic Challenge with the aim of raising a minimum of £8,000 (£2,000 each) for The National Literacy Trust. In January 2023, along with Senior Designer Kat Bourne, Senior Publicity Officer Phoebe Williams, and Publishing Operations Executive Leah Attwood, I’m going to the Arctic circle to test my fitness (gulp), endurance, internal temperature gauge, and team working skills. 

The series of physical and skills based challenges will take place in the heart of lapland, in an icy wilderness just north of Kiruna. The challenge isn't only in the races: temperatures will reach as low as -30 degrees C (yes, seriously!) and sunlight lasts only a few hours. 

In tandem with this event, I will also be cycling from London to Brighton, around 60 miles, to raise funds for the NLT. 

Working in the publishing industry at Penguin Random House UK, The National Literacy Trust supports a cause that is very close to all our hearts. By donating, you are enabling us to help the most disadvantaged children in the UK escape the cycle of poverty and low literacy. The latest research has shown that there are now 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK and 1 in 11 children of these children don’t own a single book. The cost of living crisis is set to escalate the scale of this challenge massively. These children are at risk of becoming a lost generation and they need our support now more than ever.

Last year, The National Literacy Trust…

Supported the literacy of 700,000 children who were out of school and couldn't access digital learning

Distributed 575,643 books, magazines and writing resources during lockdown.

Saw over 1m unique visitors to our family-focussed Words for Life site

Worked with 6,492 schools, supporting their efforts to re-engage and inspire learners.