Join Team Bones on one of our UK challenges, from a weekend scaling the heights of the highest Mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis, to a five day walk through some of the best scenery Scotland has on the Great Glen Way Challenge. Our UK Challenge events are a great way to enjoy the great Countryside of the UK at the same time as helping us to fund vital research into Primary Bone Cancer. Click on the links for more details:

BEN NEVIS CHALLENGE
Friday 26 - Sunday 28 September 2008

GREAT GLEN WAY CHALLENGE
Saturday 23 – Wednesday 27 August 2008

---

BEN NEVIS CHALLENGE – Fri 26 to Sun 28 September 2008
At 4,406ft Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain. It attracts climbers and walkers from all over the world, all year round. On a clear day the summit provides breathtaking views over the Highlands and the Western Isles. The route begins with an old pony track that starts from Achintee in the beautiful and scenic Glen Nevis (the location for the movies Braveheart and Rob Roy) and crosses the flanks of Meall ant Suidhe to the halfway lochan. From the lochan, the track makes a series of uphill zigzags over increasingly boulder ground, which leads to the extensive summit plateau where remains of the old observatory can be found. Not only can this be considered as a great personal achievement, but you will also help to promote and raise much needed funds for the work of the Bone Cancer Research Trust by taking part in this superb event.

The weekend starts for you on Friday afternoon when you will be met and collected at your pickup location in Glasgow. You will then be driven by coach to the Highland town of Fort William. (You will need to take a day off work on the Friday). On arriving at Fort William you will be taken to your accommodation at one of our chosen hotels in Fort William where you will be given time to settle into your room. There will then be a welcome meeting to brief you on your two day stay in Fort William and introduce you to your guides who will be looking after you and accompanying you on the walk. Once the formalities are over you can enjoy an excellent evening meal in the hotel restaurant before exploring Fort William, which is usually bustling throughout the year with Ceilidhs and live entertainment. Alternatively, just relax in the hotel lounge to conserve your energy for the following day’s event – it’s entirely up to you.

The day of the walk begins with an early start and a full Scottish breakfast. You will then be provided with a packed lunch before the coach arrives to take you to your start point in the beautiful Glen Nevis. Hopefully, weather permitting; we will have the complete group on the summit for our group photo. On the return to the start point in Glen Nevis you will find the coach waiting to take you back to the hotel, maybe for that long soak in the bath you’ve been thinking about all the way down the mountain! Then it’s time to round off the day with a well-earned rest and another delicious evening meal in the hotel restaurant, leaving us one more formality: presenting you with your certificate of achievement, before you head out to celebrate and sample the local hospitality with your new friends who you have met on the challenge. Your two days then come to an end on the Sunday with another full Scottish breakfast before your coach arrives to take you back to your departure point in Glasgow.

Guides

All of our guides are highly motivated, experienced and also qualified first aiders. They’ll share experience, encouragement and a great sense of humour.

Route

There is no climbing or scrambling involved. The event is physically demanding, however, and involves approximately 8 hours of walking over uneven terrain. The maximum gradient is approximately 1:5.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in guest houses or hotels of a high standard.

Food and Drink

Breakfast and packed lunches will be provided each day. Walkers will be responsible for paying for their evening meals.

Cost

Participants are asked to pledge to raise £400 sponsorship to cover all costs (approx: £215) and ensure that Bone Cancer Research Trust benefits significantly. We ask that £140 of the sponsorship is sent in three weeks prior to the event departure date and that the remaining £260 sponsorship is sent in within 28 days after the event. In addition, a £50 non-refundable deposit is required per person at the time of booking. You will also need to arrange and pay for your own transport to/from Glasgow.

How to book

If you would like to join us on the event, then please contact David Fisher by email david@bonecancerresearch.org.uk or call the fundraising office on 0113 2621852.

---

GREAT GLEN WAY CHALLENGE – Sat 23 to Wed 27 August 2008
The Great Glen Way is 73 miles in length. It runs through Scotland from Inverness to the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fort William, with spectacular views and historical and natural heritage on the way. The route follows Britain’s greatest geological fault – the glen linking the Atlantic to the North Sea. The entire walk is steeped in history dating back to the Iron Age and no walk in Britain can provide a greater diversity of bird and wildlife. The mighty Loch Ness is a major feature of the first two-and-a-half days of the walk and the path, which rises in places to 1,000 feet, provides enthralling views of the surrounding area. After the southern end of Loch Ness is reached at Fort Augustus, the walk follows very closely the route of the Caledonian Canal and two further beautiful lochs – Oich and Lochy. The second half of the walk is dominated by the frequent glimpses of Ben Nevis. A feature of the final day is the famous Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks.

The route takes four days to complete – the distance walked every day varies from 10.5 miles to 17.5 miles. There is no climbing/scrambling involved, but the event is physically demanding, involving approximately eight hours walking each day. However, this is more than made up for by the tremendous views.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be in guest houses or hotels of a high standard

Food and Drink

From day’s two to five, breakfast and packed lunches will be provided. Walkers will be responsible for paying for their evening meals.

Guides

All of our guides are highly motivated, experienced mountaineers and also qualified first aiders. They offer experience and encouragement, as well as sharing their great sense of humour!

Transport

Transport will always be on hand during the trip to take us to our evening accommodation and to take luggage to each overnight stop. It will also be there for safety should anyone retire from the event for any reason. The guides are in contact with the transport through radio communications at all times. At certain locations along the way, the transport will meet us to serve tea, coffee or orange juice and to let us refill our water bottles. Each walker will be responsible for getting to Inverness for a 10am start on day one. At the end of the walk, walkers will be responsible for their own departure from Fort William, but as the bus will be returning to Inverness, anyone who wishes can be taken back to Inverness.

Cost

Participants are asked to pledge to raise £575 sponsorship money in order to cover all costs and ensure that Bone Cancer Research Trust benefits significantly. Obviously, if you can raise more than the minimum amount it would be greatly appreciated. We ask that £190 of the sponsorship is sent in at least three weeks before the event and the remaining £385 is sent in within 28 days after the event. An additional £50 non-refundable deposit is required with each application.

How to book

If you would like to join us on the event, then please contact David Fisher by email david@bonecancerresearch.org.uk or call the fundraising office on 0113 2621852.