If
you’ve seen the film “Cold Mountain”, starring
Nicole Kidman and Rene Zellweger, then you’ll have seen
the setting for our fantastic fund-raising challenge, because
19th century North Carolina was recreated in the Transylvania
region of Southern Romania.
It’s a remote area where time has stayed still. You can
hardly believe you are in 21st century Europe; it is as common
to see horses and carts on the road as cars, and field labourers
still use scythes. This is a landscape of stark but incomparable
beauty, especially in the autumn when the trees are bright with
reds, golds and bronzes. But don’t let that beauty beguile
you into thinking that this challenge will be a walk in the park!
The
Challenge Starting in the historic town of Sinaia, your
trek will take you through the stunning and varied terrain so
typical of the area. You will take on some of the Carpathian’s
highest peaks, including the Caraiman. Standing at over 2500m
you are at over twice the height of Ben Nevis!
The Purpose
Also, before returning home, you will visit one of the projects
for which the challenge is raising vital funds – a “halfway
house” for young adults with learning disabilities, enabling
them to adjust to independent living as adults. Our “Arc”
project is located in the heart of Sinaia, and funds raised through
the “Cold Mountain” challenges will be used for this
project or to finance the second “halfway house” project,
based in the village of Stuica.
After the success of the first “Cold Mountain” challenge
in 2004, the Trust has made the expedition an annual event. Last
October, a group of (mostly!) young people completed the challenge
(some for the second time), raising several thousand pounds. However,
this is not a challenge only open to the young – it has
been completed by several people in their fifties and even sixties! After
the success of the first Cold Mountain Challenge, back in 2004,
the Trust has made the expedition an annual event. This year's
trip will take place in June.
For information about the next challenge, call Gill Dickinson
on 01925 220999, email gill@epiphany.org.uk
or drop us a line at our Newton-le-Willows office.