The team at Think Research, a Bournemouth based aviation consultancy, wanted to help raise funds for local independent charity The Dorset Children’s Foundation and used their imagination to organise an amazing challenge.
Inspired by the children's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen the team of people completed over 15 miles hiking in the relentless sun along the beautiful Dorset coast on Sunday the 10th of July. It was no ordinary hike! They gave themselves the added challenge of having one of the team complete the hike dressed in the charity’s mascot costume, the Dorsey Bear suit, as it is on its last furry legs and the charity are in desperate need of a new one.
To add even more difficulty, they also took a wheelchair with 30kg of weights attached along rocky, narrow paths and over dozens of stiles to signify how difficult it would be to do this in a wheelchair or with a child in a wheelchair.
In the middle of the hottest weekend of the year they encountered long wavy grass, cold rivers, dark forests and gloomy caves. With the country in the grip of a heatwave thick oozy mud and swirling snowstorms were in short supply.
Despite all odds they still managed to stay in high spirits, especially when the author himself Michael Rosen tweeted them words of support! They have raised nearly £6,500 (including gift aid) so far!
“We wanted to raise money for this worthy cause whilst helping to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with a disability and how difficult it can be as a wheelchair user to do things other people take for granted. That’s why we took the weighted wheelchair with us and had to push, drag and carry it through some very inaccessible areas. I think we knew it would be tricky but in the end with the heat, the terrain, and the distance it was much more difficult than we first anticipated. But at the same time, we had one difficult day and many people that The DCF help experience these difficulties every day. That’s why it is very rewarding to know that some of the money will be spent on an all-terrain wheelchair for a profoundly disabled little boy so he can access both the beautiful Dorset countryside and the beach and enjoy this beautiful place in which we live.” Conor Mullan, Think Research.
Patsy Hallmey Co-Founder of the charity said: “It is thanks to amazing people like these that we can continue our vital work to support local disabled children. So thank you to the incredible team there and to all their friends, family and colleagues for the generous donations and support.”
If you would like to learn more about The Dorset Children’s Foundation and the work that we do please visit: thedcf.org.