Sam's Fundraising and Awareness Page For Breast Cancer Charities

20/11/2024

How to sum up my Himalayan trek experience - It was both mentally and physically challenging.

The 48 hours travelling before and after the trek were tough. The sleeper train is an experience i never want to repeat.

The camp site and crew were brilliant and made us feel so welcome. The food was tasty although curry for breakfast, dinner and tea did get a bit much.

We started the week with an orientation walk around the local community, followed by 4 hard treks up mountains and through the valley. Trekking through jungle terrain, no paths. Scrambling, crossing rivers, steep inclines, even the decents were just as much of a challenge. And the heat made all this that little bit tougher.

However it was worth it as the views were breathtaking!

We visited temples, witnessed monks during prayer. Saw how the community lived - it was like stepping back in time.

There were soooo many stray dogs including puppies, and each day one would join us on our challenge up the mountains.

Team Erin - we laughed, we cried, we encouraged and we supported each other. We smashed it together ❤️

CoppaFeel! - Polly,, Lucy, Gi and all the team bringing smiles to peoples faces.

Charity Challenge and the local guides leading the way.

It was a completely different experience to my last 5 day trek, being so far away from home. Starting and ending most of the days in darkness, the tiredness and terrain. But i am glad i got to experience it, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.
I met some fabulous people who I will defo keep in touch with.

Thank you to everyone who has followed and supported my challenge - time to put my feet up now and look forward to Christmas 🥰

15/11/2024

Hi Everyone ❤️

Oh I am so proud to be writing this final trek update for you all! Sam has officially completed her Himalayan Adventure! She has finished her final trek off with a lovely cup of Prosecco and is proudly wearing her medal!

Today’s trek was a killer, 10 hours in 28° heat with no clouds! 🥵 Sam has said this has been so much harder than her previous Scottish Highlands challenge!

Oh Sam, we are so immensely proud of you, you have absolutely smashed it, you’ve concurred mountains in the Himalayas and raised a fantastic amount of money for a charity so close to your heart! What a strong and incredible lady you are 💪🏻❤️

Here are some fabulous photos from Sam’s last day and a little bit of information about their last trek:

The last trek was Valley Pass (7-8 hours trekking, Altitude 2165m, +/-800m)

Heading off from camp after breakfast, they waved 'namaste' to the local children on their way to school before the route turned steeply uphill. Continuing a challenging 800m ascent towards a rustic shepherds village, they climbed to a small pass where they were treated to views of the entire valley. After one more final climb, they embarked on the last leg of the challenge to the finish line where they stopped to celebrate all of their remarkable achievments!

Back in camp, their celebrations have continued with a sublime feast for the whole group, a few celabratory drinks and lots of fantastic local entertainment to enjoy! What a magical celebration to mark the end of an amazing challenge for CoppaFeel!

Sam will be heading to Delhi for one night in a hotel tomorrow which will probably feel like luxury after camping all week 😂 before starting on her journey back, arriving back in the UK on Sunday night ❤️ we know she can’t wait to see Libby & Thomas and give them the biggest squeeze!

Well Done Sam! 👏🏻

14/11/2024

Good Evening Everyone 🥰

We have some more beautiful photos from Sam! She said yesterday’s trek was so hard! She really had to dig deep! They treked through the jungle to the sumit. Pictures don't really do it justice, but a lot of scrambles and overgrown paths. Walked up for 5 hours and down for 3 hours! 😧 her poor legs!

Todays trek was the Chaina Pass and Seven Sister Pass (8-9 hours trekking, Altitude 2,757m, +1,350m/-350m)

This morning Sam had another early start. After breakfast in camp, they followed an old trail that crosses two mountain paths (with a strong possibility of cold weather)! They took on their longest ascent to date of 1,350m. The high ranges surrounded them throughout the day with their towering peaks including Mun (4610m), Riflehorn (4,400m), Arthur's Seat (4525m) and many more. 🏔️

Tomorrow is the final day of trekking, the teams are doing absolutely amazingly and they have raised over a whopping £600K in total for CoppaFeel! 😍

If you haven’t had the chance to donate yet and would like to, you can donate to Sam’s page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/sam-day-1710348204143

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and supported Sam on her journey so far! ❤️

13/11/2024

Hello All 🥰

Sam has sent some lovely photos from her first trek yesterday! She said it was tough but good and is enjoying her adventure other than it being cold at night in the camp! 🏕️

Today is the big trek! Coppafeel! teams will be taking on Bir to Billing (6-7 hours trekking, Altitude 2400m +/-1000m)

They will start by following mountain routes up through rhododendron forests and oak woodlands on a 1,000m ascent to reach an amazing Himalayan pass with great views surrounding them at 2,400m above sea level. Today's route is very demanding with steep inclines and rugged trails created by nomadic tribal shepherds, but they will be rewarded with spectacular views as the whole valley stretches out infront of them and they can trace the route they have walked so far. As they trek along the subtropical and high-altitude landscapes, they will have to keep their eyes peeled for local wildlife (Especially for signs of leopards and pumas) before taking on a gradual 1,000m descent back to camp!

It sounds tough but so rewarding! Sam is on Team Erin if you would like to follow the team along via Instagram 🥰 you can find lots of updates on CoppaFeels page & Giovanna Fletchers page too!

CoppaFeel!
Giovanna Fletcher


xx

12/11/2024

Can you spot Sam? 😍😍

Here we gooooooooooooo! A bunch (but not all) of our epic trekkers! £576,000 has already been raised for from this trek alone. Heading onto this flight with a heart full of gratitude! Thank you to the trekkers, thank you to everyone who has donated. You’re wonderful! X###

12/11/2024

Good Morning 🌅

A little update for you all and some lovely pics from Sam! After the long flight and sleeper train (that wasn’t very sleep friendly) She finally had some sleep, woo! 🙌🏻

Yesterday they had an orientation walk around the town, which she said was nice and they even got to see some monks in prayer before heading to their new camp! 🏕️

Today they are off on their first trek!! After a 5:30am wake up call, they will be heading to Mangroliar to Bir (7-8 hours trekking, Altitude 1700m +/-330m)

Starting with the hike at Mangroliar (1,370m). This remains one of the best places to experience the unique and colourful kingdom of the Himalayas. As the area is seldom visited, the route is pristine and unspoilt, providing some of the finest trekking in the world.

Today's route takes them on a steady climb through ancient forests and along the ridgeline to Sherabling monastery, where they will marvel at the impressive three-storey tall gold-plated Buddha, to the backdrop of the impressive snow-capped Himalayan mountains with breathtaking panaramic views.

A walk along a rugged mountain path, and along the top of a ridge to witness the Dhauladhar range, a high point where they will see many high peaks and the valleys and foothills below. Following lunch they will start their descent through the alpine forest until they reach farmland where they will witness an unchanged way of life dating back centuries!

How amazing does that sound! 😍 we cannot wait to see the photos!!

10/11/2024

Happy Sunday all! 👋🏻

Sam has arrived safely to Delhi after a nearly 9 hour flight 🥴 her first long haul flight ticked off!

So tonight she will be taking an Overnight train to Chakki Bank after a freshen up at a hotel in Delhi following her long flight! This afternoon she will have a chance to meet the local crew and her trekking team with an early welcome dinner before heading to the train station!

Check out these fab photos of her plane journey 😍 not jealous at all…😂