A Lake District charity has smashed its fundraising target during the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
The Lake District Calvert Trust set a £65,000 target for the week-long challenge from December 2 until yesterday, which saw all donations doubled. Its eventual total was £77,502.
Thousands of pounds were raised through the charity’s headline event, It’s a Doddle, a 24-hour challenge on Dodd that brought together Calvert Lakes staff, local residents, supporters, running clubs and businesses in a continuous effort to climb as many Mount Everest equivalents as possible.
In total, 152 ascents were completed across hourly departures from 2pm on Wednesday December 2 to 2pm on Thursday December 3, climbing the equivalent of 4.6 ascents of Everest.
Teams set off every hour walking, pushing, cycling and running up the 290-metre trail to the col behind the Calvert Lakes residential activity centre.
Alongside the mountain challenge, Calvert Lakes asked schools, workplaces, clubs and families to join in with creative fundraising effort with Wally-themed dress-up days, bake sales, sponsored walks and bucket collections to raise funds for this important initiative.
Sean Day, chief executive of the Lake District Calvert Trust, said: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who got behind this year’s Big Give week. From those who climbed Dodd in the middle of the night to those who carried, pushed and persevered through this charity challenge.
“Every pound raised, and doubled, will help more people with disabilities enjoy the confidence, freedom and joy that an outdoor adventure at Calvert brings. Thank you for helping us continue to change lives.”
Yvonne Booth, wife of Duncan, a local supporter with MS, said: “It’s so important for people to see those with disabilities supporting others with disabilities.
“For Duncan, simply getting to the start was a huge effort with multiple hurdles, but he showed up in deep, dark December to push himself up Dodd because what Calvert does matters and we wanted to contribute to this important fundraising challenge.
“Empowering people with disabilities, showing them that they can do their bit to help when others with different disabilities can’t, is so meaningful and we were delighted to help out.”
Yvonne founded the Keswick MS Society, which coordinates the 10in10 Challenge, and has been bringing people to Calvert Lakes for years.
The funds raised will go directly to the Enabling Adventure Fund, ensuring more children and adults with disabilities can experience accessible outdoor activity breaks at Calvert Lakes in 2026.
For more information about the Lake District Calvert Trust, upcoming challenges, or ways to support the charity, visit www.calvertlakes.org.uk or contact the Fundraising Team on 017687 72255 or [email protected].
