Get Adventuring for Deaf Children
Three babies are born deaf everyday in the UK. Of these babies a stunning 90 per cent are born to hearing parents who have little experience of deafness.
In the UK alone there are 35,000 deaf children and the national charity The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCDS) is there to help create them a world without barriers.
The NDCDS is offering an alternative to a relaxing spa break and is challenging people to take on one of its worldwide sponsored challenges in 2009.
This challenge will be a once in a life-time experience to trek or cycle through incredible destinations, meet new people and raise funds to improve the lives of deaf children in the UK.
The challenges usually last between 8 – 10 days and will involve a group of people taking on a challenging distance in far flung destinations such as China, Vietnam, India and Jordan.
Andrew Biddescombe from the New Forest was one of those individuals who took on the challenge of the Inca Bike Ride in Peru 2008. The challenge had a personal meaning for Andrew who decided to take on his first sponsored cycle after his son, Archie, 8, was diagnosed with a moderate progressive hearing loss in 2004.
Two years later his daughter, Rubi, 6, was also diagnosed with a severe hearing loss. Since Andrew and his wife are both hearing, they had no experience of deafness and decided to seek help from NDCS, a charity that provide parents with resourceful information related to deafness at all levels.”
“By taking on the Inca Bike Ride I wanted to raise money for NDCS in order to ensure their ongoing work in aid of deaf children can continue”, recalls Andrew. “During the cycle, I met many enthusiastic people with whom I shared a common purpose, building a sense of family. Everyone looked out for each other and we had a great time sharing the highs and lows, meeting the local people and learning the culture of the lands visited.”
NDCS Events Manager Helen Lerwill said: “For most participants, the training, fundraising and event itself are a significant personal challenge, worth every penny of sponsorship. You’ll be overwhelmed and exited as you reach your goal having seen spectacular views and experienced some of the most fantastic days of your life.
“NDCS works to provide advice, information and support services for deaf children and their families, funded almost entirely through public donations. None of our work would be possible without the commitment of individuals like Andrew.
If you would like to take part in NDCS challenge events or would like to find out more contact the NDCS Challenges team on:
0870 774 2444
or visit
www.ndcschallenges.org.uk.