“One of the toughest things I’ve ever done … but I’m so glad I did it” – Why take part in a Weldmar Overseas Challenge?
1st May 2025
< BACK TO NEWSTo mark Weldmar Hospicecare’s 30th anniversary in 2024, we announced two of our most epic Overseas Challenges to date. That November, a number of supporters trekked across the beautiful island of Madagascar, and the following March another group reached the summit of Machu Picchu.
Collectively, they raised almost £200,000 for Weldmar Hospicecare. Enough to fund the running the entire charity for a whole week!
Physically challenging and demanding, the Overseas Challenges put participants to the test in unique locations all around the world. The next expedition will be the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in 2026.
Here, a number of our recent Overseas Challenge participants describe their inspiration for wanting to take part, and share their experiences of fundraising, the support from Weldmar along the way, and the trek itself.
Nicola Brown
“When I lost my husband, in 2021, most of my plans for the future went with him. I felt lost for a long time, until I worked out that I needed to plan for a different future, meet new people, do things I’d never imagined myself doing – and an Overseas Challenge was certainly that!
“I wanted to do something to support Weldmar. Their support for my family meant that Russell was able to spend his last days at home. They continued to support me as I began to rebuild my life: I attended Wellbeing groups, meeting some truly inspirational people – patients, staff, volunteers, and other bereaved people. Taking part in an Overseas Challenge gave me the opportunity to give something back and help enable other families to receive the same support as mine had done.
“Most of my fundraising was through craft. I’ve always enjoyed sewing and knitting and since I’ve been on my own I’ve had an awful lot of time on my hands, so I started making bags and knitting children’s cardigans to sell at craft fairs. I much prefer the making to the selling, but it was a great experience, and I was blown away by the compliments my crafts received.
“The training support was brilliant – the regular walks meant that I was getting in additional training as well as getting to know fellow trekkers, so by the time we set off it really felt as if we were going as a team. By the time we came back I felt that I’d made friends for life.
“The Machu Picchu trek was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done – physically demanding and emotionally draining, but I’m so glad that I did it and so proud to have been part of the team!”
Pauline Bale
“Madagascar…wow, I thought I’d like to go there! And for Weldmar! Weldmar is an amazing charity. I greatly admire their supporting role in our community and their wonderful staff, and I support Weldmar because I think of my friends and family that have been cared for and supported on their difficult journey.
“Madagascar Overseas Challenge November 2024 would be a first for me – first time trekking, first time camping, first time solo travel, but I felt very fit with strong legs from walking and training over our Dorset Hills and I enjoy meeting people. I thought I could do it…..and I did!
“Clare, from the Weldmar fundraising team, who was with us from the start to the finish, supporting and caring for us all, she was jolly throughout, even in the most challenging times and she worked hard and was on call throughout our trip. Clare is a resourceful lady, an amazing and enthusiastic leader and a great ambassador for Weldmar.
“It was challenging, it was hard, it was fantastic and I really loved being part of a team and getting to know everyone, we all supported and helped one another and came back as good friends. The Trek was an amazing experience, a trip of a lifetime with memorable Madagascar moments to treasure.”
Chris Ware
“In June 2023, my wife Hannah fell ill. What was happening to her quickly became revealed as pancreatic cancer. A cancer I hadn’t really heard about before. A cancer that is all too often incurable. The months that followed were incredibly difficult and we were so grateful for all the care and support that friends and loved ones could provide.
“Something else that I hadn’t really heard about before this was the Weldmar Hospice. This fantastic organisation provides specialist care for adults in Dorset with a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones. All of their care is provided for free, and they need to raise £27,500 every day to continue providing all of their services.
“This includes care at home from Weldmar’s community team, at their Inpatient Unit in Dorchester, counselling and bereavement support, social workers, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and so much more. Hannah benefitted immeasurably from all of these services. Without them I don’t want to imagine how much harder things would have been. They provided comfort, compassion, experience, humour (much needed) and warmth. I very much wanted to give back to their fantastic cause.
“I found out that Weldmar were organising a fundraising challenge to go to Machu Picchu. A place I’d always wanted to go to and Hannah told me to ‘do it’. So, myself, Andy, Mark and Rob (three of my oldest friends and who were my Best Men when I married Hannah) set ourselves this challenge to raise money for Weldmar.”
Lily Taylor
“I was wanting to do more of a challenge the next time I went abroad and was on the look out for a trip. My auntie had done the Sahara desert trek for Weldmar which made me have a look on the website, where I stumbled across the Peru trip and it seemed like a big challenge and I wanted to push myself to do it. Weldmar is such an important and local charity that I know I wanted to get involved.
“I had a lot of help from family and friends that wanted to get involved so with their help we managed to organise a couple different events. We did a quiz night in a local pub; a bingo night ; a couple raffles; cake sales and a charity football match. I found that doing these in Dorchester was a great help due to Weldmar being a local charity a lot of people wanted to get involved whether it was attending the events donating prizes or allowing us to use the pubs.
“The fundraising team were a huge help to me with creating the posters and having the donation pots and tubs. The website also had so many good suggestions for fundraising. Clare was really helpful in being so enthusiastic and encouraging in our chats, meetings and emails.”
Emma Mansell
“Being the receptionist at the Inpatient Unit I see on a daily basis the amazing place that Weldmar is and the support that is given to patients and their families at what probably is the hardest time in their lives. I lost my mum 19 years ago to cancer and know she enjoyed the wellbeing services that she received in the community from Weldmar in her final weeks. I felt that it was only right to give something back to this amazing charity whilst doing something for myself, so I found myself signing up for the Madagascan Overseas Challenge.
“I am someone who has not had the opportunity to travel much and had not trekked since completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at 18 so I went with a very open mind and have to say I embraced every moment of my time in Madagascar.
“I loved the time spent travelling in the mini buses, I learnt through the window so much about the Madagascan way of life, the people shouted hello & waved all with a smile. The time spent in the capital city showed me a way of life so different to our own, so simple yet everyone I met was happy. Our morning spent volunteering at a local school was empowering, we all had tears in our eyes. The children were so pleased to see us, the classes were big but the children were so well behaved and I still cannot get over the neatness of their writing at such a young age. You could see they all wanted to be there learning.
“I have come away from Madagascar proud of myself for completing something far more difficult than anyone thought, and having enjoyed some me time. I have now got the bug to go exploring the world and maybe another Overseas Challenge at the same time.”
