Five Rivers: Fundraising for The Rivers Trust
Emily Cooper
07/08/19
Trekking 50km across the Brecon Beacons is admirable—but fundraising for charity while doing it is extraordinary.
Extraordinary is the perfect word to describe the Five Rivers team. This environmental management firm has an obvious dedication to the natural world, a value which resonates through its activities and its staff. This year, they took their passion for our rivers to the next level. Eight members of the team tackled a mammoth 50km hike in July—all to raise money for The Rivers Trust.
The morning of the challenge, a gruelling 50km hike lay ahead of them. Unwavering in their resolve, the team fuelled up on porridge and rolls before embarking on the adventure. A crowd began to gather at the start line, buzzing with nervous anticipation. With only the daylight hours to complete their challenge, the team set off with grit and determination.
In just under two hours, the team completed the first stretch of the trek; a picturesque, winding route along the Brecon canal. As the sun rose in a wide arc across the sky, so too did the terrain. The ascent had begun. In the distance, the unmistakable outline of Pen y Fan served as a daunting reminder of what was to come.
Pen y Fan was upon them now, and there was no way around it. Calling upon all the strength they could muster, the team spread out for the big climb. The air cooled as they neared the summit, providing a welcome reprieve from the day's heat. Ignoring their aching muscles, they pushed onwards, determined to see the challenge through to its end.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the home stretch was in sight. Summoning their last reserves of energy, the team soldiered onwards. They crossed the finish line with jubilation - constrained only by their exhausted minds and bodies. The team were promptly rewarded with a well-earned beer, but that wasn't all; in total, Five Rivers raised over £1600 including GiftAid!
Rivers Trust team member Anneka France headed over to collect the cheque from the Five Rivers team. This money will do wonders for our rivers. It could go towards funding vital clean-ups, planting whole swathes of trees, creating new wetlands or removing dams. Whatever the money is used for, we know that it will make a huge difference for the natural world.
We’d love to say a massive thank you to the absolute legends over at Five Rivers for their mammoth fundraising effort. If the rivers could thank you, they would, too! The money you raised will prove absolutely invaluable in the fight to protect and improve our rivers. People like you give us the determination to keep on fighting, and we are incredibly grateful.