British Exploration Society Cairngorms Expedition

Hi! First of all, thank you for taking an interest in my fundraising project, it really means a lot to me.

My name is Sophie Gordon and I am currently studying for my A Levels in English Literature and Language and Geography. I enjoy running, cycling, swimming, yoga and in fact most things active and outdoors!

I am passionate about the environment and would like to study geography at University and go on to work in a job to protect our environment and natural resources.

The money I am raising will be going towards the British Exploration Society (BES). This charity has been established since 1932 and have supported young people to build resilience, confidence and self-esteem in wild and remote locations. They particularly want to support young people who may not have the opportunity to take part in life changing outdoor adventures. They do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations to deliver learning and adventure in the wilderness.

I am delighted to be joining an expedition with the BES in the Cairngorms National Park in July 2025. This is a very special trip for me as my grandfather also took part in a BES expedition to Arctic Sweden in 1959. The trip was over 3 weeks and the team of young boys trekked daily in Arctic conditions, carrying out experiments, camping and cooking for themselves. My grandfather was a cartographer and spoke very fondly about the trip, including eating frozen oats as their daily porridge! He was a climber and a man who loved adventure and the outdoors and he has always been an inspiration to me.

This trip will be a 7-day adventure with like-minded people who I have yet to meet, consisting of wild camping, daily hikes, exploring and investigating the native wildlife and swimming in the nearby lakes.

The Cairngorms is home to four of the five highest mountains in the UK and 55 Munro's. I have set myself a challenge to run a 28km trail race in the Peak District in June in preparation for the expedition. This will be a tough challenge and the furthest distance I have ever run, but I am excited by the prospect of the adventure and putting myself to the test.

Thank you so much for reading this and thank you for your donation!