Lower 6 Yomp the Cairngorms

Donations can be made via Ruth Twitchen is fundraising for Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service (justgiving.com)

At Queen Anne’s the students inspire and drive charitable incentives, from bake sales to swap shops. Over the years, the school has raised thousands for local, national and international charities.

Never known to shy away from a challenge, the students’ strong spirits beam through. When the chance to complete a challenge beyond the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award arose, eight Lower 6 (year 12) students jumped at the opportunity. A three-day, three-night challenge spent wild camping in the Cairngorms in aid of the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice is how Ruth, Lizzie, Mateja, Luisa, Hettie, Liberty, Claudia, and Emily planned to spend their half term.

With a momentous challenge ahead, the group completed a fitness programme to ensure they were prepared. With limited signal and resources, resilience and determination were also needed, making it both physically and mentally challenging.

Accompanied by Mr Blunt, Lead on the Duke of Edinburgh Award at QAS and experienced mountain leader, Mr Lange, Miss Lee and Mr Stephenson, on Saturday 28^th May the group travelled up to Scotland, setting up camp in Braemar.

With their sights set on the mighty Munros of the Cairngorms National Park, the group began their first walk which would take them into the heart of the Cairngorms valley. Covering approximately 14km, the group reached a bothy next to the river Dee where they would spend the next two nights.

Unfavourable weather left the group wet and cold, but they managed to ‘bag’ their first Munro, triumphantly standing at 3,294ft on the top of The Devil’s Point on Sunday 29^th May.

With worse weather looming, the group were unable to bag any more Munros this day but hoped to summit Ben Macdui the following day.

Disappointingly, the threat of thunder and lightning meant it was unsafe to climb Ben Macdui and carry out their plan of wild camping on the mountain’s plateau for their final night. Packing up their camp, the group headed towards Aviemore through the Lairig Ghru, the biggest mountain pass in the UK. Despite the change of plan and bad weather, the group were in high spirits, storming their way through the valley and covering over 16km.

A final night was spent sitting above Aviemore in a sheltered area by the river Dee, before descending into the town the following morning. Large breakfasts and showers all round as their challenge came to an end.

Everyone at Queen Anne’s is extremely proud of the group’s fundraising efforts, with Head of School, Elaine Purves commenting “They are an inspiring group of students who took on a demanding challenge to raise funds for a brilliant local charity”.

The Alexander Devine Charity

The Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice in Maidenhead provides children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, the specialist care and support that they need. This year, the charity is celebrating 15 years since it was established in the memory of eight-year-old Alexander. The running of the hospice relies mainly on donations. The charity has expressed their gratitude towards the group, inviting the students to the hospice to see the difference their fundraising makes to so many children.