I’m going to be posting a few blogs on this topic, as it’s such a good idea for, especially for those of us who take hiking holidays anyway, but here are just a few great walking events available this year and the beginning of next to get you started thinking about it!

These are all for McMillan Cancer, who you’ve probably heard of, they provide practical, medical and financial support for cancer sufferers as well as pushing for better cancer care.

1.    Sahara Hiking Challenge 2010 – 27 February-7 March 2010

This is a nine day,100-kilometre trek through one of the most extreme landscapes on earth, so be aware, you will need to be an experienced hiker and will need a good level of fitness. Whilst I’m sure this hike will be a lot of hard work, it will also be one of the best experiences of your lifetime. From the stony flat expanse to 500 metre high sand dunes this will be an experience you can get nowhere else.
In order to take on this hike of a lifetime, you will need to raise at least £2,300. The full cost of the travel arrangements is approximately £920 but this will be taken out of your sponsorship money.
For more information or to sign up for this epic challenge, please visit: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Hikingevents/Sahara/SaharaHikingChallenge.aspx.

2.    Alps Hiking Challenge – 1-5 September 2010

If you’re short of time or nine days seems a little bit more than you want, then why not try this: three climbs in three days in the spectacular Chamonix region of the French Alps, in the shadow of Mont Blanc.
This is one of the world’s most renowned hiking areas, will take you from the base of the beautiful Chamonix valley up into the mountains surrounding the majestic Mont Blanc Massif.
In order to take on this mountaineering adventure, you will need to raise at least £2,000. The full cost of the travel arrangements is approximately £790 but this will be taken out of your sponsorship money.
For more information or to book, please visit: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Hikingevents/Alps/AlpsHikingChallenge.aspx

3.    Kilimanjaro Hiking Challenge – 20-30 January 2011

This seven day hiking challenge will really push you to your limits. The ultimate hikers challenge, Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world at 5,896 metres.
During this trip, you will spend seven days on the mountain, instead of the normal six days. This gives you more time to acclimatise to the altitude and increases your chances of reaching the summit.
This is the most expensive of the three trips, with travel arrangements at an approximate £1720, but once again, this cost is taken out of you sponsorship money. Don’t breath a sigh of relief too soon though as you might have guessed it, the minimum sponsorship is pretty high for this one, coming in at…..£4300. I’m sure there will be many people willing to sponsor you for such momentous achievement though!

For more information or to book, please visit: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Fundraising/Hikingevents/Kilimanjaro/Kilimanjaro.aspx

I’m sure for many of you these might be trips you’ve been thinking of taking for a while and what better time to do it than when you can raise some cash for such a good cause. So if you’ve got the guts and fitness levels, why not sign up – and if I were you, I’d don your hiking shoes on a regular basis in the mean time to keep up your levels of fitness! .