Embo woman raises £18,000 in Arctic challenge
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A WOMAN from Sutherland, along with her friend, have just completed a challenge of a lifetime.
Lesley Strang, from Embo, and Ashley Lockhart from the Black Isle, have trekked 70km across the Arctic Circle, raising £18,000 for the children’s charity, When You Wish Upon A Star Scotland.
The charity grants wishes to children aged 4-17 who live with a life threatening illness.
The pair took on the challenge to raise money specifically for the Highlands and Islands region, to ensure that children who meet the charity’s criteria, and their families, can create some treasured memories.
Lesley Strang said: “I worked with the charity for a number of years in Edinburgh and had heard all about their various sporting/endurance type challenges.
“I had seen first-hand the difference the wishes can make to families going through hard times.
“The chance of being able to take funds back to families in the Highlands and Islands was just incredible – so when I heard about the Arctic challenge I said yes!”
Lesley and Ashley arrived in the Arctic Circle last month to take part in the trek which took three days to complete.
A group of nine trekkers stepped off the plane and into their snowshoes in Rovaniemi, Finland, where they battled temperatures of -15 degrees, camped in tents under the stars, trekked over frozen rivers and lakes and pulled their own equipment using an expedition pulk (a low-slung small sled) whilst trekking for up to 12 hours a day.
Lesley and Ashley worked hard on fundraising for the trek and have been overwhelmed by the support from their local communities.
Funding events included Star Decorating Days at Potter’s House in Muir of Ord which raised £500, Yoga for Wishes which raised £310 and their final pre-trek joint fundraising event The Burns’ Wish Supper at Resolis which raised more than £6,100.
Local businesses and many friends also donated their support.
Lesley is an expert at organising events and runs her own company called Lesley Strang Event Production, which is behind the hugely successful Belladrum Festival.
For When You Wish Upon A Star, she set up the Inverness Santa Fun Run and Walk at the UHI Campus, the first time the charity has held this event in the area.
The £18,000 raised will go towards granting wishes which could see families from the region going to visit Lapland in December in search of Father Christmas.
This adventure brings smiles to children’s faces and it’s a day that allows illnesses to be put on hold, swapping hospital beds for sleigh rides and time which brings families together to make precious magical memories.
Ashley Lockhart said: “I first heard about When you Wish upon a Star when I did some volunteer work for Lesley.
“Once I read about the challenge of the trek and where the charity money would go, I signed on the dotted line!
“I knew of some local families who had had wishes granted in the past so was determined to help grant some more.”
Judith King, from When You Wish Upon a Star Scotland, said: “Moments like our magical Winter Wishes to Lapland can only be created by the support of our amazing Wish granters
“We are truly honoured to have Lesley, Ashley and their supporters who have helped raise more than £18,000 to be very much part of our Wish granting team throughout the Highlands and Islands.”
The Arctic Wish Trek fundraising pages will be open until April 30 and if you wish to make a donation and learn more about the trip please follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lesley-strang1
