Dream Challenges

Dream Challenges
Life Changing Events

Thursday 29 October 2015

Event Itinerary: Trek Borneo

On Saturday a team of challengers flew to the Malaysian island of Borneo with our wonderful Dream Team.  Therefore this week we thought we would look at the amazing itinerary that they are about to endeavour on this dream challenge.

About Trek Borneo…

Trek Borneo offers participants a once in a life time experience to trek in remote areas of this paradise island. Borneo is the third largest island in the world. The 140 million year old rainforest that covers much of the island is home to many thousands of plant, animal and bird species and also provides one of the few remaining refuges for the endangered Bornean Orangutan. Participants on this event will experience a real sense of adventure as you trek a little trodden route up Mount Trusmadi, Malaysia’s second highest summit at 2,642m. En-route to the summit you will have the opportunity to stay in a typical village and to plant trees as part of a conservation project.

On reaching the summit they will have time to witness the sun rise over Borneo and taking in views of the spectacular Mt Kinabalu which rises majestically above the forest some 40 miles away. The highlight for most on this event will be the visit to the Orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok where they will have the opportunity to see the work to care for and rehabilitate young orangutans orphaned as a result of illegal logging and deforestation and those that have been illegally caught and kept as pets.

Trek Borneo is open to people from all ages and from all walks of life who will come together to do something amazing. It will be life-changing in many ways, each individual will achieve their own personal challenge and for the number of charities that will benefit from the funds raised by the challengers.

The Itinerary…

DAY 1: Depart London for overnight flight to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo

DAY 2: KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA 

Arrive on the island of Borneo where we are met by our local ground team. We have a short transfer of about 20kms to our overnight accommodation at Beringgis Beach Resort or similar at Papar. Following dinner at the hotel our experienced Event Leader will deliver your pre-event briefing and will introduce the team of event support staff.



DAY 3: KOTA KINABALU TO SINUA 

Around 8am, after breakfast we will leave the hotel to undertake a 2 – 3 hour road transfer which takes us into the interior to Keningau, crossing the Crocker Range a conservation area that contains a huge diversity of animal and plant species including the three most endangered mammals, Orang Utan, Sun Bear and Clouded Leopard. We disembark at Mensiak village the starting point for our trek. Today we trek for approximately four hours to Sinua where we find our overnight accommodation which will be at the village community hall.



DAY 4: SINUA TO TAINISKON CAMP ONE 

Today we have to register with the Forestry Department to obtain our permits to climb Mount Trusmadi after which we trek for approximately four hours to Tainiskon Camp One where we will overnight in a mixture of tents and huts. En-route to camp we will have the opportunity to plant trees as part of a conservation project managed by the Forestry Department.



DAY 5: TAINISKON CAMP ONE TO TAINISKON CAMP TWO

 After an early breakfast, we start our trek through secondary rainforest moving gradually up-hill into the Trusmadi Forest Reserve. We overnight at Tainiskon Camp Two. Our trek today will take approximately seven hours



DAY 6: SUMMIT DAY 

Today we are woken at 2.30am for coffee before leaving camp at around 3am to trek to the summit of Mount Trusmadi at 2,642 meters and known as ‘The Garden in the Sky’ which is a haven for numerous species of rare and beautiful plants including the unique ‘pitcher plant’. It is expected to take about 3 – 4 hours to reach the summit. On reaching the summit we will have time to explore the plateau and to watch the spectacular sunrise which in clear conditions will provide a superb view of Mount Kinabalu, lying some 40 kms to the north and the highest peak in Borneo. Our trek today will take about eight hours.The descent takes us through forest filled with rhodedendron, orchids and nepenthis. We return to overnight at Tainiskon Camp Two.



DAY 7: TAINISKON CAMP TWO TO TAINISKON CAMP ONE

After breakfast we break camp to continue our trek down the mountain to Tainiskon Camp One where we can salute our achievement of having successfully reached the summit with the local rice wine. The trek today will take approximately seven hours.

DAY 8: TAINISKON CAMP ONE TO KOTA KINABALU 

We leave Tainiskon Camp One to trek to Sinua where we will be met 4 x wheel drive vehicles that will take us to Sook and the onward transfer to Keningau and Kota Kinabalu. Our accommodation for the next three nights will be at the four star Ming Garden Hotel or similar.



DAY 9: KOTA KINABALU TO SANDAKAN 

Today we take the 40 minute flight to Sandakan to visit the renowned Orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok where we will have the opportunity to witness feeding time in the morning and afternoon. Long tailed macaques are also regularly seen having been attracted by the freely available food. We then transfer to Sandakan for the 40 minute return flight to Kota Kinabalu. This evening we have our celebration dinner and cultural show at Kg Nelayana a local restaurant or similar.



DAY 10: FREE DAY

Today we have a further free day to provide the opportunity for additional optional excursions, some last minute souvenir shopping at the waterfront craft market or to just relax by the hotel pool.

DAY 11 Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport 

Challengers take their return flights to London 



Trek Borneo 2016

We can’t wait to hear the stories and see the photos from this amazing trek upon the challengers return, keep an eye out on our Dream Challenges Facebook page to see the photos and video footage from the trek. We will be revisiting Borneo in 2016 for the same trek – you really don’t want to miss out so why not sign up today? 

Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 

Friday 23 October 2015

That’s quite High…

In March 2017 we are hiking the Himalayas in beautiful Nepal. Why some might say would you go to Nepal after it has been devastated by the earth quake in April 2015? Our answer would be that Nepal has been rebuilding the areas affected, visiting Nepal brings in an income stream and helps support the local businesses, and the largest reason is because Nepal is a country with beautiful sights and a spiritual feel that we want our challengers to experience. 

We have an expert team of ground handlers who have been updating us since the earthquake, and the areas we are visiting have not been directly affected by the earthquake. Our team in Nepal cant wait to welcome us back. 




Therefore this week to highlight how amazing the trek will be the following is an extract taken from Ruth Borehams blog ‘That’s Quite High’ which illustrates part of her experience of Dream Challenges Lets Trek for Children Himalayas 2014.
The event saw Ruth complete eight days trekking in Nepal. The adventure took place in the stunning Annapurna region, home to the 8,091m Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Machhapuchchhre (6,993m) pure Himalayan magic! The highlight of the challenge was to reach summit Poon Hill (3,210m).

On top of the world…



The alarm went off at 4.15am.  It took me a while to get my clothes on and get ready but by 4.45 I was downstairs, ready to go.  Ready for the trip up to Poon Hill– Sam made sure I got up to the top in time for sunrise. That was the goal – that is what the whole trip had been about.  Getting to the top of Poon Hill to see sunrise over the Annapurna range.  That is why we were setting off so early.
The walk up to the top of Poon Hill from our lodge took me about an hour and a half.  It was a very popular thing to do – lots of people from all over Ghorepani village heading up, head torches on to light the way.  A few of us struggling a little with the atmosphere – at this height (Poon Hill is 3,210m) the oxygen is a little thinner.  And of course I struggled with the actual climbing of the hill!  Lots of little stops along the way, Sam being great and taking my bag for me and distracting me with chat.  And then at one of the little stops I turned off my head torch and just looked up.  This was about 5.15am and the stars were absolutely incredible.  Given how little light there was around, I could see so many more stars than I normally would.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  I have a real thing for looking at stars, and this did not disappoint.  I could have spent a long time just standing looking up – and indeed, when I go back (for I have to climb Poon Hill again!) I think I will leave even earlier so I can spend longer just star gazing.
But the top was beckoning so onwards we went.  And eventually got there and met up with the others as they were either there before me or coming along after.
Here I am at the top of Poon Hill, waiting for the sun with two of the fantastic porters, Jangbu and Sona, and Ash, one of the trekkers.



And was it worth it?  Absolutely without a doubt, the most magical thing I have done.  It was crowded at the top, lots of people waiting there to watch the mountains emerge from the darkness, but as soon as the sky started to brighten I forgot them all and was just swept up with the magic of it all.  It wasn’t a clear sky – there were plenty of clouds getting in the way of the mountains – but it was still absolutely incredible.  Actually, it was quite emotional.  And the photos I took don’t do it justice at all, but here is a little hint of what it was like. 

Words really can’t describe it – it was definitely a case of you had to be there!  And just to prove I was really at the top, here are a couple of photos of me at the top!
I could have spent hours at the top there, just looking at it all, but we didn’t have hours.  Time enough to see the mountains emerge, the sun take her place in the sky, and of course lots of photos including a lovely group one...


I did it! And yes, I would love to do it all again!

I trekked in the Himalayas, reaching Poon Hill (3210m) to see sunrise over the Annapurna Mountains.  One of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.  But also the hardest physical challenge I have ever done.  Not quite as prepared as I should have been.  But I still did it, thanks to the fantastic people I was with and also the thought of fundraising for such amazing charities.
Ruth decided to support two children’s charities close to her heart, paying for the trip herself, all money raised went directly to:
  Children of Songea improving life for children in Tanzani
 CHILDREN 1st improving life for children in Scotland.  Specifically fundraising for the Befriending service, Ruth has been a befriender for over 3 years.

If you want to join us in March 2017 then check out all the information on our website
Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 


Tuesday 13 October 2015

Work mates being team mates…

With our team events we often find that a lot of you who take them on are actually team mates already but in a very different environment. Your everyday support is less helping each other climb a mountain in the Scottish Highlands but more helping each other tackle a mountain of work in the office.

This week we hear from a team from AXA Wealth who took on our Ben Nevis Charity Challenge in September this year. The team mates known as the Nevis Treaders completed the epic event which entails climbing Ben Nevis, cycling and canoeing a loch all in one day in a heroic nine hours and fifty six minutes.  Here is what their team captain Andy Ennis said about the event.

The Nevis Treaders…

Three out of the four of us still work at AXA – James worked with us previously although moved on to pastures new.

We wanted to do a challenging charity event as a team and entered a similar even in 2011 in the Lake District.  Unfortunately, due to bad weather and dubious directions we failed to complete the challenge so the four of us wanted to do something similar again, for closure as well as raising funds.  It took us four years as since the last event some of us have got married and/or started families.  This year felt right and whilst the previous event no longer exists, we found the Ben Nevis event with Dream Challenges a similar (if not tougher) event.


AXA Wealth have supported Jack’s Place and Naomi House as our chosen charity over a number of years.  The four of us have helped to raise money for this cause over the years and as such it’s a charity we have helped to support and which is close to our hearts.

About Naomi House and Jacksplace…

Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices provide expert care to more than 280 life-limited and life-threatened children, young people and their extended families from Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.
Our nursing, care, play and family support teams are experts in delivering the crucial emotional, spiritual and developmental aspects of care that families need.

Pre event nerves…


On the actual day, I think we all had pre-event nerves although once we started and met some of the other teams, despite the mountain being tougher than expected (especially the way down) we really enjoyed the day.  The event was very well organised and it was really reassuring that the start, changeover and finish were all at the Nevis Centre.  



We all thought the refreshments were a nice touch and helped to keep everyone motivated.  The briefings were clear and to the point and helped to reassure everyone on the format of the day, the routes and also provided the opportunity to ask any questions.
The cycle routes were easy to follow and after the mountain and the road, it was almost a joy to get into the boat for the canoe section.  We completed the canoe stretch in just twenty eight minutes.  The last cycle leg was almost euphoric as we all knew we had almost made it and were on the final stretch.


It was also nice to socialise with a few of the other teams after the event and later in the evening enjoy a few drinks in Fort William which is a lovely place full of friendly people.

The mountain was tough…

The only thing not so positive about the experience was the mountain on the way down (through no fault of the organisers). As the weather deteriorated, the path, especially nearer to the bottom became treacherous and we noticed some people were using trekking poles which seemed to help people keep their balance.  If we did the challenge again (which is a distinct possibility) I think we’d consider using these.  This didn't diminish our enjoyment of the event however!

Been There Done Nevis…
All though the team felt that they struggled with the descent from the mountain they did it in an impressive six hours and thirty minutes which shows that team work makes the dream work. The team raised £1500 for Naomi’s House and Jacks Place which is a great achievement in itself.

If you and your work mates want to become team mates and join us for the Ben Nevis Charity Challenge 2016 then please visit the website for more information. It is a great way to raise money for your works charity of the year and the perfect way to boost morale within the office as there will be lots to talk about along the way and following the event! Or even better when more than one team enters it sparks a bit of healthy competition not only to raise the most but to see who will finish the challenge first.

Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 




Thursday 8 October 2015

Why I am trekking India…



Next October we will be taking a group of challengers to India for our Lets Trek for Children 2016 event. Let’s Trek for Children is all about fundraising for children charities by taking on a trek, so far we have taken this challenge to Jordan and Nepal raising a vast amount of money for the charities involved.

Let's Trek for Children in India entails five days of trekking starting in Dharamsala the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama. We will trek through spectacular mountain landscapes and sleep under the stars in remote mountain camps as we head for our finish line at Laka Got (3,550m) well above the Himalya snow-line. This amazing Indian adventure culminates with a visit to the breath-taking Taj Mahal in Agra.

The trek takes our challengers through some beautiful places however the terrain and the amount of walking they take on per day is what makes the trek a challenge. This week we hear from one of our intrepid challengers on why taking on this type of fundraising challenge is important to them.  

My chosen charity is The British Heart Foundation

Hi my name is Sally, I live in a very bustling village just north of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. I work in the Doctors surgery there which is the ideal place to start fundraising as it is extremely busy and we run lots of clinics for heart and stroke monitoring. 

My chosen charity is the British Heart Foundation and I have done around nine treks and a bike ride for them. I chose that charity as they do phenomenal research into heart disease, ground breaking work which truly helps to save and change lives.

In 2016 I'm doing a trek in the northern region of India, for Children. The BHF does very important work with pre-natal, neo-natal and infancy to find cures for genetic heart disease and disorders.  This is vital work which makes a difference to lives and to children born with heart defects.The BHF have agreed for me to do this coming trek for them.



Fundraising is a challenge in itself…

When you sign up for a 'challenge' you are normally given a target amount to raise.
Fund raising is a challenge in itself! Faced with being asked to raise £3000-3500 is often daunting and many folk don't like asking the same family and friends to sponsor them.

You also need to achieve a reasonable level of fitness - often another challenge in itself.

A few years ago I decided to hold a 'coffee and cake' morning. I asked many friends and patients at the surgery to come and also very cheekily suggested they contribute a cake if they felt able!

Amazingly response was good and my kitchen looked like 'The Great British Bake-off'!
I then decided to include that if anyone had any 'unwanted' items, they donate them for us to sell!

This has proved a popular and winning formula - it has become an annual village event, typically raising around £1000 each time! The effort is a lot but so worth it. I'm lucky to have a fantastic army of fabulous friends who always turn up to help me run the event. My kitchen is buzzing, table heaving with cakes, garden lively with folk sitting with their coffee,tea and yummy cake, people seem very happy to chat and they go away with a bag of goodies, some raffle tickets and having guessed the weight of the cake!

The secret seems to be that we don't charge any prices - we simply ask for a donation. People seem to want to be more generous that way!

Sale items include books, DVDs, plants, jewellery, clothes, shoes, small furniture, toys, bric-a-brac etc.  My house looks like a Christies sale!

By the way, all unsold items are bagged and boxed and taken to other charity shops so nothing is wasted. This year all clothing was collected to be taken to help with Syrian refugee crisis, small items sold by local post office for Acornschildren's hospice, other items to cancer research and Macmillans shop. Fantastic effort by everyone and so far this year I have banked £1068 for the BHF with another £50 or so to come.

The challenges are life changing, fantastic fun and give you enormous personal strength.

So I say just Go for it!!!

Want to support a charity?



There are still spaces available on Lets Trek for Children in India 2016. There are two ways in which you can fund the challenge, a popular way is by self-funding, so paying for the trip yourself and then fundraising on top of this for a charity of your choice. Alternatively, you can select the children's charity of your choice, register for the challenge and then fundraise £2,900. Providing you have raised the funds 10 weeks before the challenge your charity will pay the tour costs on your behalf with the remaining money and any money you raise over your minimum sponsorship going directly to support the work of your children's charity.

By taking on a challenge you could be supporting research for children's cancer treatments, or help grant a magical wish for a child fighting a life threatening condition or even help fight blindness. There are lots of children charities out there, you can visit our website for a list of those we have supported already.

We hope you feel inspired to take on a life changing challenge! May be see you in India next year?


Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: 




Thursday 1 October 2015

Viva La Cycle Cuba!









Buena Suerte…

On Thursday we say Adios and Buena Suerte to our cyclists flying out from London to take on a 400km cycle challenge across the stunning Caribbean island of Cuba. We have run this challenge for over ten years and it promises to be filled with fun, laughter and of course dancing.

On the trip we will see sights such as the beautiful Jibacoa Beach, cycle through the Yumuri Valley which has picture postcard tropical scenery with open pastures fringed with palm trees. A change in scenery when we cycle in the city of Matanzas, but then back to citrus groves.  We will tour the city of Cienfuegos, a World Heritage site and an important fishing port on Cuba’s south coast. Cycle past the majestic Escambray Mountains before reaching Trinidad. A World Heritage site and famous for its colonial architecture, the traditional methods of transport and cobbled streets give Trinidad the feel of being in a time warp. From Trinidad we will head into a scenic valley with sugar mills and tobacco fields. Stopping at Manacas Iznagas, a former sugar farm which is now a centre for local artisans. Our finishing line will be at the Che Guevara Mausoleum, one of Cuba’s most important revolutionary monuments where we will enjoy a Cuba Libre.

This week we wanted to delve a bit deeper into Cuba and learn more about this interesting Caribbean island. So here are ten things you may not have known about Cuba.

1. The history of Cuba…      

Cuba was inherited by tribes before the landing of explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492, who claimed it for the Kingdom of Spain. Cuba remained a colony of Spain until the Spanish American War of 1898, after which it gained independence as a de facto U.S. protectorate in 1902. Since 1965 the country has been governed by the Communist Party of Cuba.


2. Bacardi rum originated in Cuba…

Bacardi was founded in Cuba in 1862, but the family-run company ended up getting exiled after the revolution. Luckily, they had already built plants in Puerto Rico and Mexico, just in case. Nowadays, you won’t find any Bacardi in Cuba – instead, all your rum needs are covered by Havana Club.

3. Cubas people…

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and, with over eleven million inhabitants, the second-most populous after Hispaniola. It is a multi-ethnic country whose people, culture and customs derive from diverse origins.



4. Christmas did not become an official holiday in Cuba until 1997…

Castro – better known as the Grinch – slapped a ban on Christmas when he came to power in 1959. He only put an end to it before the Pope’s visit in 1998.
5. Language…

The official language of Cuba is Spanish and the vast majority of Cubans speak it. Spanish as spoken in Cuba is known as Cuban Spanish and is a form of Caribbean Spanish. Haitian Creoleis the second largest language is spoken by Haitian immigrants and their descendants.













6. Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in the world...

In Cuba, 99.8% of people over 15 can read and write – and that’s compared to the global adult literacy rate of 84.1%. They really put us to shame with their curriculum, too. Pupils learn things like dance, gardening, health, hygiene and, of course, a bit of revolutionary history. Plus, all school meals and uniforms are free.
7. Its home to the world’s smallest bird and frog…
Tiny wildlife seems to be the norm in Cuba. Not only does it hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s smallest frog, it’s also home to the smallest bird. The Bee Hummingbird grows to a teeny 2 inches, while the Mount Iberia frog is just 10 millimetres in size.


8. Cuban Currencies...
There is more than one official currency in the country of Cuba. While Cuban locals use the Cuban Peso—tourists are given the Cuban Convertible Peso and are unable to use the Cuban Peso. So it’s essential that you have the right currency!
9. Cuban Time...
In Cuba, it’s common that things are a little bit slower pace. Let’s just say the island country runs on “Cuban time” or relaxed time.

10. There has been a McDonald’s in Cuba at Guantanamo Bay since 1986...
It turns out you really can find the golden arches anywhere including Guantanamo Bay. This one is surrounded by barbed wire and only accessible to staff at the base, but it’s the only one on the island.













 Viva la Cuba... 
We hope all of you love Cuba and the cycle as much as we do! If you want to delve a bit deeper into Cuba why not check out our Pinterest board for this beautiful island. 


Feel Inspired? To find out more about Dream Challenges events please visit the website or contact us directly: