The gruelling event called on participants to run, cycle, paddle, abseil and swim across 35 miles in under 12 hours. After an 8.30am start paddling the length of lake Ullswater, the SearchFlow team completed the course in the dark 11 hours later, That meant starting the ascent of the 803m Old Man of Coniston when most people were coming down.
Having set out initially to raise £3,000, SearchFlow’s team exceeded their own expectations by gathering donations of more than £10,000 for Demelza Hospice Care for Children, which provides the only residential hospice for children with terminal conditions in Kent, east Sussex and South London.
Judith Storr, marketing manager at SearchFlow who took part in the challenge said:
“The Ultra Challenge certainly lived up to its name, putting the team through its paces on land, water and even in the air! As we started out, the Cumbrian weather was fairly drizzly and got worse during the day.
"By the time we reached the Old Man of Coniston, we were soaked through and the mists had enveloped the mountain. The most hair-raising part of the day was the 120ft abseil which caused more than a few terrified screams.
“It’s fantastic everyone completed the course in our planned time and we had a brilliant but exhausting day. What’s most satisfying is that we raised over £10,000 for the Demelza Hospice, who do such important work for sick children in our area."
Donna Wells, corporate fundraising manager at Demelza House said:
“We are truly grateful for the continued support of the staff at SearchFlow. The team’s determination to push themselves to their physical limits in order to raise vital funds for Demelza never ceases to amaze us.
"Their fundraising has been recognised by winning two awards at the Demelza Business Awards."
