Fundraising

Lyn's story – trekking through China

Summary: If you don’t think than an overseas challenge is for you – read Lyn's story before you decide.

• Lyn's challenge
• What Lyn thought of her challenge

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After great personal difficulties, Lyn decided to change her life. She started by losing five stone with Weight Watchers. After this great achievement she was ready for more. Her daughter, Katie saw RNIB's advert for a trek along the Great Wall of China and signed them both up!

Lyn's challenge

About a week before departure, Lyn rang the organiser to ask (in a very small scared voice) what would happen if she couldn’t do the challenge. Despite reassurances that she could, she was still very anxious. She later revealed that she had been physically sick at the thought of what she was about to do!

On the first day, everyone in the group found it tough just walking to the Wall, let alone on it. At the end of the day, the options to return to street level were to walk, take a "toboggan" run, or use the chair lift. Katie opted for the run and Lyn chose to take the chair lift. Once on the chair lift, Lyn gripped the handrail with white knuckles and confessed that at theme parks she never went on rides, opting to stay safely on the ground holding the coats. By the end of the chair lift, not only was Lyn waving down to her daughter but with both hands!

The next time, when the choice off the wall was either walk or take an aerial slide, it was Katie who chose to walk, while Lyn took the slide. The smile on her face by the end was huge, the difference in her was amazing.

At the end of the ten-day trek, Lyn made it to the top of the "Heavenly Staircase". She had felt the fear but resolved to do it anyway.

Since returning home, Lyn's life has continued to go through change and development. People are commenting on the way she has changed. Since their return, Lyn and Katie have signed up for another challenge. They are planning to do the Inca Trail in Peru as an open challenge in May 2007. They have chosen RNIB as the charity they are raising money for.

What Lyn thought of her challenge

"To begin with we found the fundraising hard, but we found out about RNIB and realised that its work is very worthwhile. The trip itself was life changing for me. It made me think and I became aware that lots of people have issues and problems and that I needed to stop being selfish about my own!"

If you have been inspired by Lyn's story and think that you can rise to the challenge, then check out our forthcoming overseas events.

Content author: fundraising@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13