Our supporters travelled to the Ghyll Head Outdoor Activity & Education Centre for a 2-day event packed full of physical and mental trials.
The Charity Outdoor Challenge invited Manchester businesses to put forward teams to battle it out to be crowned winners, with their entry fees raising funds for the event’s charities: We Love MCR Charity and Manchester Youth Zone.
The Ghyll Head site is gorgeously situated by Lake Windermere, surrounded by forests and with lakeside access, making it the ideal location for all sorts of challenging activities to take place.
Ghyll Head is normally a place where Mancunian schoolchildren enjoy on trips, which means that there’s nowhere better to put these ‘big kids’ from six different organisations through their paces!
After a thorough briefing by the experienced Ghyll Head staff, the businesses split off and the first day’s events got underway. Each group’s teamwork and communication skills were put to the test with deceptively difficult puzzle tasks and a shaky session on the low ropes (part-funded by We Love MCR in 2022!).
Bravery and composure were the next qualities called upon, as the challengers had to scale an imposing climbing wall.
And after completing that, they then had to jump off the top of the platform whilst trying to score a goal in a bucket below – an incredibly difficult task, congratulations go out to the single challenger who managed it!
After a lunch break in the canteen, challengers were asked to put on their life-jackets and head down for a session on the eerily-quiet waters of the stunning Lake Windermere.
Teams took each other on in a series of boat races, which saw some nail-bitingly close finishes.
By the end of the afternoon, everyone was so drenched that the idea of jumping off the end of the jetty sounded more fun than it was frightening... That signalled the end of the days challenges, and everyone went back to dry off and enjoy a night by the fire.
The second day started with final challenges to determine who would take home the trophy. You'd think it would be nothing too demanding given some were still recovering from the day before, but the final challenge to endure was a fell-running orienteering task before their buffet lunch!
This first-of-its-kind event, in partnership with Manchester Youth Zone and Ghyll Head, ended with a speech by Ged Carter, Head of We Love MCR Charity, reminding everyone of the importance the funds generated by participation in this event for both charities' work in Manchester.
The eventual winners, Calvin Capital, were then handed the trophy and everyone was thanked for their enthusiasm and generosity by both charities. Here's to next year's event!
Huge thanks go to all the Teams - from Calvin Capital, Corptel, GLL, Arup, Faithful & Gould, Mace and Lyndon SGB.
Let's end with the thoughts of Glenn Robinson from Mace:
Get in touch to reserve your place in the 2023 Outdoor Challenge....
We Love MCR Charity prides ourselves on our tailored partnerships with dynamic and progressive Mancunian businesses, and are always eager to bolster our network that runs across our city. If you represent a business that fits with our values, then get in touch with our Head of Charity at gerard.carter@manchester.gov.uk