A huge thanks to all who came along and supported us, and to the local businesses and LED supporters who provided raffle prizes.

We’ll update soon on the total amount the event raised but a great time was had by all on a hot, humid but fun day and evening.

Donations to support LED’s work in Nepal and Peru are much appreciated at any time via our JustGiving page – www.justgiving.com/lighteducationdevelopment

Our annual LED charity walk will be held on Saturday 9th September 2023 and we’ll be based in the village of Portinscale, near Keswick in the Lake District.

We plan to head off from the village hall at Portinscale which is just behind the Farmers Arms (grid reference: NY249237, What3words: watching.coasting.typed, Post code: CA12 5RW, Google maps) at 9.30am and ask you to all be there by 9.00am for a safety and update briefing.

We will then all then walk to the foot of Cat Bells with the hope we can all get to the top for a group picture (NY244199). After that there will be choice of 3 “guided” walk options (distance, ascent & timings all advisory!) which are as follows

1. Short route: Descend to Hause Gate (NY244191) and drop down towards Derwent water and walk back along path above the road (D: 11km, A: 550m, T: 4 hours)
2. Medium route: Go over Maiden Moor and High Spy and after dropping to the saddle (NY231153) with Dale Head, follow the footpath back into the Newlands Valley (D: 20Km, A:900m, T: 6/7 hours)
3. Long route: From the saddle climb up to Dale Head (NY222153), follow the ridge north west, then north round to Hindscarth (NY216165)and drop back into Newlands Valley from its north east ridge (D: 22km, A: 1200m, T: 7/8 hours)

You are of course free to choose any other variant of the above!

We will then all enjoy tea and biscuits at Portinscale Village hall before commencing the evening dinner around 7.30pm.

As many of you know, Portinscale is a charming Lakes village just a short walk from Keswick. Whilst there is lots of accommodation available in Portinscale, Keswick or Braithwaite, this is the Lakes so we would advise you to book early!

We’d love to see as many of you that can make it come along and so we can plan the logistics and catering we would be grateful if you would complete the registration form by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/uw4g75Qj1Fpb1zp78

If you have any further questions now or beforehand please do not hesitate to email us. We look forward to seeing you all on 9th September!

Val & the LED Trustees

Our annual LED fundraising walk will be held on Saturday 9th September 2023 and we’ll be based in the village of Portinscale, near Keswick in the Lake District.

We’ll be sorting registration in 2023. In the meantime, save the date!

We really appreciate your support and look forward to having a fabulous day and evening with you all enjoying the stunning Langdale area and the hospitality at the meal.

Many thanks to most of you that have completed the Google Form advising of your attendance. You should have received these joining details, and a PDF of the planned route, by email already. If not, please email us.

If you are planning to come along and have not yet filled in the Google Form, we would be grateful if you could do so. It does mean we have your emergency contact details and there is the all important disclaimer which by completing the form means you have read and understood it. For completeness and transparency here it is again!

Please note – The challenge involves demanding, vigorous exercise. You will be expected to walk continuously for a number of hours in mountainous areas, often over difficult terrain and in variable weather conditions. Participants are responsible for making sure they are prepared for the challenge by training and bringing the required kit and equipment. Please seek medical advice to check you are fit and capable of taking part in the walk. By registering for this event, I agree to the following statements:

• I agree to abide by all government and local guidelines with regard to covid-19 including, but not limited to; not attending the event if I have been feeling unwell immediately before the event takes place, and removing myself from the event if I become unwell during any part of the event
• I am over 16 years of age
• I understand it is my responsibility to make sure I am medically fit and capable of participating in the event and that I am properly trained
• I understand that participation in the event could include actions that may be hazardous. I understand that is essential to take extreme care when encountering livestock, steep drop offs, uphill sections, roots, mud, rocks, bad weather etc
• I agree that the event organiser LED reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to stop any participant from taking part if the individual is deemed unfit to participate, including mid-event removal where necessary
• I agree that failure to comply with any instruction from event officials and marshals or any breach of any rules and regulations governing the event will result in you being asked to leave the event
• I agree to the use of my personal data for the purpose of LED communicating with me about the event

Anyway that’s the serious (and important stuff out of the way) so here’s the logistics and timings for the day and evening

Saturday 14 May 2022: Logistics and timings

0900 – Meet at Stickle Barn car park (New Dungeon Ghyll hotel) at Grid reference NY294064 / Postcode LA22 9JX (please note it is a pay and display car park although free to National Trust members!)
0915 – Headcount and safety briefing
0930 – Commence Walk (see details below)
1800 – Meet at Chapel Stile Village Hall (LA22 9JE), details at this link for good food and company (we have booked the hall for the full day so if you wish to get there earlier please do so – we believe there is also use of a shower if people are not staying locally and wish to change)

We can provide a PDF map of the planned walk and have options to do other variations of this route if there is poor visibility. A lower level route has also been planned if the weather is truly foul!

We appreciate most of you are experienced hill walkers so please come dressed and equipped for the terrain and weather. Please let us know if anyone wants to have a suggested kit list. One of the Trustees will have a group first aid kit (please do bring your own especially any personal medication etc), group shelter and bivvy bag.

We all are really looking forward to seeing you on what we hope will be a great day and evening. If you have any questions about the day please do let us know.

Best wishes

Val and LED Trustees
Light Education Development

When: Saturday 14 May 2022.

What: Our annual get together and fundraising event will located in and around the village of Chapel Stile, near Ambleside in the Lake District.

Various walk options will be on offer in the Langdale Valley including the Classic Round Pike of Stickle, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag, Paveys Ark and Sergeants Man.

To round off the day we’ll be holding the always popular evening dinner in Chapel Stile Village Hall.

Where: The start and finish will be confirmed nearer the time.

Cost:

• Walk & Dinner: £50pp
• Walk only: £25pp
• Dinner only: £25pp

To Register and Pay:

• Register: Complete this Registration Form to let us know you’re coming
• Payment: As a donation to LED on our dedicated JustGiving page – LED 2022 Fundraising Weekend – Langdale Valley

We’re looking forward to seeing you in May!

The Braithwaite Institute was a great place to hold our evening event, and to dry off after a rather wet and soggy and windy walk.

Thank you to everyone who came along, to those who helped on the day and in the preparation and organising, and to fundraisers, sponsors and donators old and new.

A few words from Val –

“I’d like to say a special thanks to everyone for attending our 2021 Fundraising event and to all who helped to make Saturday such a success, including Wakeman’s Cafe in Ripon for their delicious scones!

And in particular, special thanks to Codey, Geoff and Danny for walking in their ballet outfits and raising so much – over £2500 and counting….”

The 2021 Fundraising Weekend page on Just Giving will be open for donations until 04 October: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2021LED.

It will be located in and around the village of Braithwaite, near Keswick, with plenty of walk options available including the full Coledale Horseshoe.

We will be holding our evening event at the Braithwaite Institute, the village hall in Braithwaite. There will be dinner, drinks and plenty of opportunity to catch up with friends old and new. 

Registration will be £20 per person and an additional £25 per person if you would like to join us for dinner after the event. If you would like to attend, please complete our online registration form.

The 2021 Fundraising Weekend page on Just Giving is: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2021LED

If you’ve not already sorted out accommodation, please do!

While we aim to continue with our solar lighting distribution (and a huge thank you to those who participated in the individual Huayhuash Challenges in March and early April), we are specifically aiming at our September fundraiser to raise in the region of $10,000 USD to provide medical funding for the health posts we support in both Peru and Nepal.

We’ll give more updates as we progress towards September. In the meantime, stay safe and fingers crossed we can all gather in the Lakes on 11 September.

It will be located in and around the village of Braithwaite, near Keswick, with plenty of walk options available including the full Coledale horseshoe.

Registration details will be sent out shortly after the next Government announcement (expected around the third week of May), which is currently intended to update us all on the easing of restrictions around self-catering and holidaying options in the UK.

In the meantime we know a number of friends and supporters have sourced nearby accommodation which, given proximity to Keswick, is in fairly plentiful supply. We are hoping to have an evening event on the Saturday but cannot confirm a venue yet until we are able to travel ourselves and check venues out. We plan to have the evening do as close as possible to Brathwaite, if not in the village itself. 

The last year has necessarily seen LED shift focus in terms of what we do given the constraints of travel for Val and also the health issues in both Peru and Nepal. A lot of funds raised this year have been used to provide food to the communities we usually reach with our lighting, medical and educational supplies. Both Peru and Nepal have suffered a range of shortages and our friends on the ground in both countries have made fantastic efforts to get our support out to the villages that have needed it the most.

While we aim to continue with our solar lighting distribution (and a huge thank you to those who participated in the individual Huayhuash Challenges in March and early April), we are specifically aiming at our fundraiser event in September this year to raise in the region of $10,000 USD to provide medical funding for the health posts we support in both Peru and Nepal.

We’ll give more updates as we progress towards September on this. In the meantime, stay safe and fingers crossed we can all gather on the 11th September.

From the comfort of your own home – where else?? – we challenge you to:

• Walk 210km, or
• Climb 10,460m
• or both!

The challenge runs throughout February and March, concluding on Friday 02 April 2021 – so you can indulge in Easter treats galore!

We’ll have prizes for:

• First to 210km
• First to 10,460m ascent
• Longest distance overall
• Highest ascent overall

… plus some Trustees’ Specials – let your imagination run wild: do it in fancy dress, carry your own kit bag, go three-legged, be the youngest, be the oldest!

You can ask sponsors to settle up via “Val’s Huayhuash Circuit Challenge” campaign page on JustGiving – www.justgiving.com/campaign/LED2021 – or create your own fundraising page on that page. Scroll down for tips.

But you can use whatever fundraising mechanism you like – set up a Facebook fundraising page, collect your sponsorships the traditional way and send us a one-off donation via our JustGiving page, or set up your own fundraising page elsewhere.

Let us know how you go via Facebook – comment at www.facebook.com/LEDCharity or do your own updates and remember to tag our LED account so others can see whats going on.

Not a facebook fan? Email us at LED.Charity@gmail.com.

GOOD LUCK!

Want to set up your own Huayhuash Challenge fundraiser on Just Giving?

Go to the Val’s Huayhuash Circuit Challenge 2021 page, click on “Start Fundraising”, select “Fitness at home” – and take it from there!

Just need the links?

Here they are:

Our annual LED fundraising walk will be held on Saturday 11th September 2021 and we’ll be based in the village of Braithwaite, in the Northern Lake District.

We have a few versions of the Coledale Horseshoe available on the day and there are plenty of accommodation options both in Braithwaite and the surrounding areas including Keswick. 

We’ll be sorting registration in 2021. In the meantime, save the date!