Helen Hyland, Fundraising Manager, ME Association.
Sarah Bascombe from Beckenham in Kent will be travelling to the Lake District on Saturday to scale Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in England – to help raise funds for the ME Association.
Sarah is a veteran fundraiser. It all began with music – when her choir roped her in to collect donations at various train stations – and she caught the fundraising bug.
The British Heart Foundation was her first charity choice as Sarah sadly lost her mother to a heart attack.
The first of many hikes was her first challenge – 9.5 miles along Hadrian’s wall. It was there she discovered a love both for walking (and challenging herself to longer or harder trails) and for exploring the British countryside.
The rest is history. This will be her fifth year of undertaking two charity challenges a year – often supporting charities for causes that have directly affected members of her own family.
More recently, Sarah has prioritised smaller, lesser known charities, realising they (we) are most likely to need her support. And supporting the ME Association is particularly relevant, as she has two family members and a good friend with the condition.
Sarah fully recognises the impact that M.E. has on peoples’ lives: particularly the devastation and frustration of those who are desperate to work but prevented from doing so by the debilitating symptoms.
She said, “Due to a common misunderstanding of the condition, sufferers often lack support and empathy from people and thus I want to raise some awareness of M.E. as well as some funds for research into its' causes and potential cures.”
Many miles later, Scafell Pike remains the final peak of the big UK three to be tackled. Sarah has already conquered Snowdon in Wales and Ben Nevis in Scotland, succeeding at the latter despite atrocious weather conditions.
| “I do believe that if everyone can do a little good as they go about their daily lives and take a bit of time to help out those in need, the world would be a nicer place. So I am just doing my bit and hoping it provides a little inspiration to others to do the same.” |
Sarah is looking forward to the challenge of her latest walk and to the chance to meet really inspirational people along the way.
I have rarely come across a more committed fundraiser. Sarah humbly talks of meeting other walkers who have given her inspiration, not realising that in all her efforts, she too is an inspiration to us all.
If you would like to support Sarah’s efforts, or learn more about her challenge for M.E. please visit her JustGiving page.
Image credit: Scafell Pike Wikipedia Commons
The ME Association
Real People. Real Disease. Real M.E.
We are a national charity working hard to make the UK a better place for people whose lives have been devastated by an often-misunderstood neurological disease.
If you would like to support our efforts and help ensure we can inform, support, advocate and invest in biomedical research, then please donate today.
Just click the image opposite and visit our JustGiving page for one-off donations, to establish a regular payment or to create your own fundraising event.
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ME Association Registered Charity Number 801279