A PAIR of Evenwood women are heading for an adventure of a lifetime after making a charity fundraising target with only days to spare.
Ros Seagrave and Sabrina Parker were tasked with raising £7,200 for Butterwick Hospice before the end of December to take part in an Arctic survival week in Sweden in March. The duo, who have had no previous fundraising experience, managed to raise a whopping £7,273.04 with activities throughout the year.
Ms Seagrave said: “We had four coffee mornings, we have done four bag packs at supermarkets, we had a children’s fun day at my yard and we did a Halloween disco – we did all sorts.”
The pair also held a Halloween horse ride organised through Hamsterley Riding Association an a Pink tribute night at Tindale Club.
They received a further £500 sponsorship from Evenwood company C&A Roofing and support from Evenwood and Barony Parish Council to the tune of £50.
Village artist Sean Gilbey donated a painting which they raffled off for extra cash. Having achieved their goal in December the women are now preparing themselves for the adventure which runs from March 23 to March 30.
Ms Seagrave said: “This involves making our own snow shelter, surviving outside in freezing cold temperatures from zero to -30C, melting snow to drink and surviving on basic rations. We are fairly fit as it is, but we need to get our gear ready.”
They will now be hunting for items such as snow boots and sleepingbags that can withstand the extreme low temperatures. The women are no strangers to adventure having taken part in a number of activities at Hamsterley Forest. It was after successfully completing a survival weekend in the forest that they were invited by Butterwick Hospice to take part in the Arctic challenge.
Ms Seagrave said: “I want to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to all those who have sponsored, donated, come to fundraising events, and coffee mornings, etc. The list is endless and we really are grateful.
“We’ve achieved this with no fundraising experience. We have learned an awful lot along the way.”
