Five fundraisers are preparing to swap the Northumberland countryside for the sands of the Sahara Desert this Thursday (12 November), taking on an extraordinary challenge to raise vital funds for accessibility improvements at Queen's Hall Arts!
Among those setting off are our very own Finance and Admin Manager, Lisa, and her daughter Emily, alongside Board Member Ceri, Phil and Paul, who will be embarking on an unforgettable journey across one of the world's most challenging landscapes.
Image (L-R): Phil, Paul, Emily, Lisa and Ceri.
The group will trek between 15 and 20 kilometres each day, tackling everything from vast sand dunes and dried-up riverbeds to rocky terrain and sun-baked plains. With daytime temperatures potentially soaring to 40°C and nights dropping close to freezing, they'll face some serious physical and mental challenges along the way – not least keeping the sand out of everything!
But behind the adventure is an important cause.
As a charity based in Hexham's historic Victorian Queen's Hall building, we're committed to making our spaces and activities as welcoming and accessible as possible.
Funds raised through the trek will support improvements to wheelchair access, a new hearing loop for our theatre and better signage and access to make Queen’s Hall more accessible and welcoming to everyone.
Lisa explains why the challenge means so much to her: “I am so proud to work alongside such a fantastic group of people. We want to make the building as accessible as we possibly can so that everyone can enjoy the events we put on.”
The trekkers have already covered the costs of their trip, meaning every penny raised through the link below will go directly to Queen's Hall Arts.
We're incredibly grateful to all five for taking on this challenge and wish them the very best of luck as they set off on Thursday!
Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates from their adventure, and we'll catch up with the group when they return to hear all about their experience.
Support the Sahara Desert challenge
You can show your support by making a donation towards making Queen’s Hall more accessible below. Every contribution, big or small, will help us on our way.