The Great "Southern Alps Traverse" Fundraiser.

OUR MISSION

Our charitable trust delivers youth development programmes and alternative education to some of the most ‘at risk’ youth in Canterbury. Aged between 13 and 18 we teach and mentor over 80 young people per year. We specialise in Adventure-Based Social Development which allows us to use the outdoors as our classroom, and to build confidence, resilience and self-belief in our young people.

OUR CHALLENGE

The pinnacle of our year is the Southern Alps Traverse. Our young people do a range of biking, tramping and rafting covering a vast amount of backcountry in our own form of ‘Coast to Coast’ challenge. This five-day adventure takes them from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean:

Day 1: Collect water from the Tasman Sea, then mountain bike from Milltown to Kumara.

Day 2: Tramp from windy point to Hope Kiwi Lodge.

Day 3: Tramp from Hope Kiwi Lodge to Lake Sumner.

Day 4: Raft from Lake Sumner to Maori Gully.

Day 5: Mountain bike from Spencer Park to New Brighton Pier where they pour their water into the Pacific Ocean.

OUR CHARITY

We are proud that for the first time, our young people wish to use this challenge as an opportunity to be role models to those struggling with mental illness.

They have chosen the charity ‘The Key to life’ (I am Hope) because mental health is a very real issue surrounding them, their friends and whanau. The young people of 180 Degrees Trust, understand they will be both physically and mentally challenged throughout this journey. They want to show others that they can make it through even though it's tough and that sometimes the greatest challenges can teach the most valuable lessons.

OUR GOAL

Our young people’s goal is to raise $5000 for the "Key to Life" Charitable Trust which would equate to $1000 per day of their journey.