Hangar to Hangar Charity Challenge: Climbing and Cycling for CAC

Polly, a 10-year-old from our Squad team in Hangar Exeter, has completed an amazing challenge across 5 days to raise money for Climbers Against Cancer. Her adventurous spirit, determination, and fundraising efforts are commendable, and she serves as an inspiration to others, showing that age is not a barrier when it comes to making a positive impact in the community. Find out more about Polly and her charity challenge below.

About Polly

Polly has always been up for an adventure, whether it's wild camping, trad climbing or exploring new places with "pin in the map" adventure days! With her love for climbing and cycling, she recently took on a unique challenge to raise funds for a charity while completing her Torbay & Devon Civic Award scheme.

Polly

Polly was introduced to climbing at a young age by her dad, Ben, who has been a climber and cyclist for most of his life. They often climbed together at the Plymouth Hangar, but Polly became more involved in the climbing community when our Exeter wall opened in Spring 2022. She joined our Youth Squad at the Exeter Hangar when it started in June 2022, and her passion for climbing grew.

Where did the idea come from?

As part of her Torbay & Devon Civic Award scheme, Polly needed to prove their participation in different areas, such as hobbies, citizenship in the community and adopting and supporting a cause or charity. She chose to support Climbers Against Cancer (CAC), a charity that raises funds for cancer research facilities worldwide while raising awareness through the climbing community. With cancer affecting so many families directly and indirectly, Polly was determined to make a difference.

What was the challenge?

To combine her love for climbing and cycling and create a challenge that would help her raise funds for CAC, Polly proposed a Hangar-to-Hangar charity cycle challenge. The challenge involved sourcing a tandem and cycling between the three South-West Climbing Hangar centres: Swansea, Exeter, and Plymouth, while climbing at each location along the way. The route covered over 380km with more than 3000m of elevation gain, making it quite daunting.

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The five-day challenge kicked off on Easter Saturday, riding up to 90km a day, braving all kinds of weather, and eventually finishing off in Plymouth the following Wednesday. Ben said:

“The highlights of the ride were following the canal towpaths in South Wales, counting ducks, and crossing the old Severn bridge in the sunshine on the second day, plus the endless supply of easter eggs in Polly's handlebar feed bag!

The most challenging part was definitely battling through 50-60mph winds and heavy rain courtesy of Storm Noa on the last day to reach the Plymouth Hangar.  We were both pretty tired by then, with weary legs and sore bottoms, and climbing up to Okehampton in the morning into a headwind in a hailstorm I seriously doubted we would be able to continue all day.  But Polly dug deep and kept (mostly) smiling and we pushed on through, arriving soaked and shivering mid-afternoon. After half an hour drying out in the cafe, Polly announced it was time to climb (in her only dry clothes, her PJs!).”

Support Polly & Climbers Against Cancer

Polly's determination and efforts to make a difference are truly inspiring. She has already surpassed her original fundraising target of £500 but is hoping to raise as much as she can for the wonderful CAC charity. Please donate what you can here.

Well done, Polly!

Photo Credits: Catherine Dunn