Adventure That Transforms Lives: Charity Challenges for Every Explorer
Every day, thousands dream of climbing mountains and exploring distant lands. Simultaneously, countless worthy causes need support. “Choose a Challenge” bridges these worlds brilliantly, creating fundraising adventures that serve both wanderlust and compassion.
The Power of Purpose-Driven Adventure
When friends Dan and Charles summited Kilimanjaro in 2008, they returned with more than memories. They brought back a vision: creating adventures that change lives in two directions—for the travelers and for those benefiting from the charitable funds raised.
“We believe adventure is the key to life, and that the best way to travel is for a reason,” says the Choose a Challenge team. “What better way to see the world than through raising money for an incredible cause?”
Their mission hasn’t gone unnoticed. Since inception, they’ve helped raise over £20 million for charities and guided more than 12,000 adventurers through life-changing experiences worldwide.
Challenge Types: Finding Your Perfect Adventure
Trekking Challenges: Explore the World on Foot
The most natural way to connect with our planet is by walking its surface. Whether you’re dreaming of:
- Summiting Kilimanjaro (9 days, Extreme difficulty): Stand on Africa’s rooftop and watch sunrise paint the clouds below you
- Trekking to Everest Base Camp (15 days, Extreme difficulty): Follow in legendary footsteps through the majestic Himalayas
- Discovering Machu Picchu (9 days, Challenging difficulty): Unveil the mysteries of the “Lost City of the Incas”
- Exploring Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains (8 days, Challenging difficulty): Experience a trekker’s paradise of stunning vistas and local culture
For those seeking closer-to-home challenges, the UK Three Peaks Challenge offers a perfect introduction—conquering the three highest peaks in Britain within just three days.
Running Challenges: Test Your Endurance
For those who find peace in the rhythm of running, European marathons provide the ultimate test:
- Budapest Marathon: Run 26.2 miles along both sides of the magnificent Danube
- Athens Marathon: Follow ancient Pheidippides’ footsteps, finishing in the historic Olympic Stadium
Cycling Adventures: New Horizons on Two Wheels
The London to Paris Cycle route covers 280km over three challenging days, taking you through picturesque countryside before arriving triumphantly in the French capital.
How It Works: Your Journey from Signup to Summit
Taking on a charity challenge might seem daunting, but the process is streamlined into six simple steps:
- Choose Your Challenge: Select your dream adventure from trekking mountains to running marathons
- Choose Your Charity: Pick from their partner charities or nominate your own favorite cause
- Book Your Challenge: Secure your spot with a registration fee
- Access Your Trip Portal: Get training tips, packing advice, and all essential information
- Meet Your Sponsorship Deadline: Reach your fundraising target with support from both the charity and Choose a Challenge team
- Conquer Your Challenge: After months of preparation, experience the adventure of a lifetime
“When you sign up to a challenge, you open up a world of opportunities,” the team explains. Many participants find that the journey transforms them, creating lifelong supporters of charitable causes and passionate advocates for adventure.
Flexible Fundraising Options
Understanding that different people have different financial situations, Choose a Challenge offers three fundraising approaches:
- Standard Fundraising: Lower upfront cost, higher fundraising target
- Flexi-Payment Plans: Pay more toward trip costs, lower your fundraising requirements
- Self-Funding Option: Cover the full cost yourself and fundraise whatever amount you wish (not available for student participants)
“We understand that reaching a fundraising target can be daunting,” they acknowledge. “But your chosen charity provides dedicated support throughout your journey.”
A Community of Like-Minded Adventurers
Perhaps the most unexpected treasure from these challenges is the community formed. Whether traveling with fellow university students or joining an open group of diverse participants, the shared experience creates bonds that often last a lifetime.
“You will be joined by a group of like-minded individuals of varying ages and from all walks of life who, like you, are taking on the challenge of a lifetime for a worthy cause,” the team promises. “You will be sure to make friends for life.”
Supporting Charities Through Partnership
For charities looking to partner with Choose a Challenge, three relationship models exist:
- Open Partnerships: Allow supporters to join any existing challenge
- Peak Partnerships: Focus on university fundraising with potential to raise significant funds
- Bespoke Partnerships: Create custom challenges exclusively for your supporters
“We love to work with our charities to create meaningful, lasting relationships,” the team shares. “By giving our charity challenge participants the experience of a lifetime, we encourage them to become lifelong supporters of their charity, as well as avid adventure-seekers.”
Begin Your Journey Today
Adventure with purpose isn’t just a tagline—it’s a philosophy that transforms routine travel into something far more meaningful. When your aching muscles push you up that final stretch of Kilimanjaro, or your lungs burn during the last mile of the Athens Marathon, knowing you’re raising funds for a cause that matters gives you strength beyond your own resources.
As Choose a Challenge puts it: “When you get involved in one of our charity challenges, not only do you guarantee yourself the trip of a lifetime, you guarantee that you are going to change the lives of others.”
Ready to step outside your comfort zone, create lasting memories, and make a difference? The mountain is waiting, and so are the thousands who’ll benefit from your journey.
You can also participate in our ongoing charitable challenge
