Michelle's Chile Trek 2002

More Information about MENCAP and the vital work they do is available on the MENCAP website below.

Here is a BRIEF synopsis:

The Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults (MENCAP) is a registered charity (no: 222377), HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother is the charity's patron.

Mencap is the UK's largest organisation caring and campaigning for people with learning disabilities.

What is a learning disability?

It is a life long condition that can result from damage to the brain before, during or after birth, or from genetic or chromosome factors; such as Autism and Down's Syndrome.

Somebody with a learning disability will almost certainly need ongoing support throughout their lives. Depending on the severity of their condition, many people with learning disabilities go from school onto further education and into paid employment; others however require continuous and intensive support.

What does Mencap do?

Mencap works with people with learning disabilities to help fight discrimination. Campaigning to ensure that their rights as individuals are respected.

It also provides essential residential, education and employment services. Mencap looks after all other aspects of their lives; such as leisure opportunities and individual support and advice for people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and employers.

How much money from the Chile Trek will go to Mencap?

• Out of the initial Registration fee £250 and the minimum £2500 sponsorship - Mencap will get approx. £1500. The remaining goes to paying for the flights, accommodation, transfers, Across the Divide and administration. There is always the option to pay the cost of the trip yourself.
• With 2 trips running and a MINIMUM of 30 and MAXIMUM of 80 people per trek, all who raise the MINIMUM sponsorship of £2500 - Mencap could raise a staggering £90000 to £240000 through the Chile Trek 2002 events alone. This will go directly to the people that it was set up to help.
• £200 could help Mencap make 10 visits to a family who child has just been born with a learning disability, who require crucial advice and support. (Around 300 babies will be born with learning disabilities in the UK, whilst I am on the trek.)
• £570 will pay for the 16-week training course for Family Advisors and provide the costs for 7-10 volunteers who give advice and support to people with a learning disability and their families.
• £1,000 can pay for a group of people with a learning disability to have the time of their lives on an adventure holiday and take on new challenges of their own like canoeing and rock climbing.

You can see that events such as the Chile Trek really do help and have become a popular way to raise money as both parties get something out of the CHALLENGE.