Fearless students depart for Borneo
WORLD CHALLENGE DEDICATED FUNDRAISING PAYS OFF
In the build up to their departure the students check their supplies and make sure everything is in order. TEAM PICTURE: Aisling Rowe, Alex Ward, Keith Sheridan, Calum Watson, Ross McCann, Jack O'Flynn-Martin, Jenny Healy. Front row: Colm Fitzpatrick,...
TWELVE STUDENTS from the Greystones/ Delgany/ Kilcoole area TY and JC students have spent the last two years fundraising and preparing their fitness for a World Challenge expedition to Borneo. After a lot of hard work and enterprise, the team have now left Ireland to attempt four challenges during their month-long stay in Borneo.
The first challenge in the country is to source/book food, accommodation and transport for their expedition. The next will be to construct two wooden foot bridges for a tribe in the Highlands, a four-hour trek from Bario. This is over a creek that leads to the village and will aid the community and make their lives much easier. The other challenges are more physical involving a five-day jungle trek and they also hope to summit Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in SE Asia standing an impressive 4,100 meters. There will be time to visit some of the oldest caves in the world, the orangutan sanctuary and possibly a beach for their well deserved day of rest at the end of the month.
During the month away the team will carry all the equipment they may need, plus personal items. Whilst in Borneo they are supported by the World Challenge operations centre based in the UK and are travelling with a satellite beacon, satellite phone and a team mobile phone. The company have also provided full expedition kit, including hammocks and bashers for their jungle trek and safety equipment including an extensive first aid kit. There are two adults travelling with them, professional expedition leader, Jo Blackshaw, and local businessman, Dave Flynn from the Happy Pear in Greystones. This is the culmination of a two-year programme normally run either side of a school TY programme. These students wanted to form their own team, outside of school, and without doubt, the support of local business people was key to enabling these young people to achieve something spectacular at such a young age.
Special thanks go to The Happy Pear for their business advice when the students started their own business and their time and use of facilities. Jackie Skellys provided a personal trainer for the team and use of the gym.
The Horse and Hound Pub in Delgany provided them with venues and the availability of the bar, crucial at fundraising events! Trespass offered advice and donated kit towards the expedition, Dunnes Stores provided the possibility of bag packing days and the Tropical Medical Bureau provided medical guidance and immunisations.
In addition many of the local business people offered prizes or advertising space for events.
Shay Eager of Wicklow Homes and the €2 shop in Kilcoole, as well as Druids Glen, sponsored the students.
Despite the financial restrictions of the last year, this has been a true community effort for a group of local teenagers. The majority of the team have gained their bronze Gaisce award and are now using the expedition for their silver award. As part of the bronze award the team have undertaken several community projects including clearing a garden for a cancer patient, helping tidy a local graveyard, volunteering at coffee mornings and fetes in the local community.
The team are expected to return August Bank Holiday weekend.
