On 27^th August 2022, Matty and Ava will be attempting the National Three Peaks Challenge, where we will be attempting to summit not one, not two, but THREE of the highest mountains in the UK in the space of 24 hours. We will begin in Scotland at Ben Nevis, which at, 1,344 metres, or 4,409 ft is the tallest of the three. From there we will drive south into the Lake District where we will then climb Scafell Pike (978 m, 3,209 ft). The final of the three is the Welsh mountain, Snowdon, standing at no less than 1,085 m, 3,560 ft.

So this means climbing three mountains, in three different countries in just 24 hours.

We will be doing this to raise vital funds for The Baobab School - a charity that Ava is a trustee of. 

About The Baobab

The Baobab is a family run charity who’s sole purpose is to fund a school in Gachie, Kenya. The school has ninety 4-6 year old children from the poorest households from the local villages. They have a headteacher, three other teachers, three cooks and a security guard. Every penny raised goes directly to the school. They have zero expenses and zero administrative costs. All of their funds are raised in the UK by either donations, standing orders from friends or fundraising events. 

The past two years has been very difficult for obvious reasons but despite the school having to close for ten months, they managed to survive and to keep paying the staff in full during that period. The school is now playing catch up with the curriculum as, in essence, the Kenyan schools lost an academic year. Despite this, the school and the little Baobabs are thriving.

Another major part of The Baobab is the sponsorship programme for those that leave the school. One of the biggest challenges has been that although they are able to give these poor children a great start in their education, when they leave the school they go into the state system which is not great, and many of them end up falling out of the system.

 Each year, to mitigate this as best they can, The Baobab tries to get their highest achievers an opportunity to be sponsored so that they can get a place in either the St Phillips Academy or White Cottage Primary School. These are good fee paying schools that give them a chance to excel and make something of their life. There are currently twenty one children sponsored in further education and the trustees are very involved in their progress. They are all doing brilliantly and are thriving both academically and personally.

They formed a new group called the Baobab Seniors which consists of all of the sponsored children and they are led and mentored by the most senior children Simon and Julianne who are both doing brilliantly in Starehe school which is one of the best schools in Kenya. Simon has just (this week) gained a place in Kenyatta University. A magnificent achievement from where he has come from!

To find out more about the school and the work they do check out their website:

www.stnicholasnairobifund.co.uk