As she nears the end of a year of charity challenges, a fearless fundraiser has hit a brick wall.
Despite spending the last 10 months taking part in activities across the world, Emma Langridge is struggling to meet her target.
The 28-year-old, an instructor at PGL Dalguise in Highland Perthshire, had hoped to raise £12,000 for organisations that support the armed forces by discovering her sense of adventure.
Although she has completed a four-day trek along the Inca Trail, taken part in the Cateran Yomp and walked along Hadrian’s Wall, just £1,000-worth of donations have been made by friends, family and supporters.
Emma, from Cupar in Fife, told The Courier that her endeavours have left her stressed and seriously out of pocket.
She said: “I feel so deflated. I didn’t realise how hard this would be or how stressful. The cost of these events, including travelling, has used up all my pay cheques this year, including a loan.
“This wouldn’t have been so bad if I had made more money and I actually thought I was making a difference.”
As a former member of the Royal Air Force, Emma was keen to show her support to a number of charities, including Help for Heroes, SSAFA Forces Help, ABF the Soldiers Charity, the RAF Association and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
She had hoped to attract significant donations of kit and cash to smash her ambitious target but, sadly, this hasn’t been forthcoming, other than being lent a van by car dealer Arnold Clark.
Emma continued: “I had visions at the beginning of the year that I would find huge sponsors to donate kit. I also hoped to have the backing of the local community and that my target would have been reached by the end of the year.”
Fortunately, she has had the support of her friends and family, who have been with her every step of the way during her mammoth challenge.
Their faith in her efforts has encouraged Emma to keep going with her project, with her mother set to join her on a hike up Snowdon in Wales later this month.
Despite suffering significant injuries following an accident at work earlier this year, her partner Andy has also been a “tower of strength”.
“I am doing the rest of the challenges as a thank-you to them for believing in me and being positive,” she added.
“They have always said the right words when I got really down and felt so alone in this quest. I just want to make a difference, share my challenge, so that it might prove anything can be done if you put your mind to it and, hopefully, give someone strength to take on a challenge of their own.
“I have come last in pretty much every run I have done, but I have always finished and that is the main goal it’s not about how quickly it can be done, it’s about not giving up.”
Following jaunts up Snowdon and Ben Nevis, Emma will be hosting a fundraising event at the Cupar Corn Exchange on November 9 between 1pm and 6pm.
She is urging residents to back her table-top sale by donating unwanted clothing, books, toys and games, or by hiring a table for £10. At the end of the evening, Emma will be cutting her hair and donating her locks to the Little Princess Trust, which provides wigs and hair pieces for children who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatment.
To donate to Emma’s fundraising campaign, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/12monthchallenge, or visit her Challenges for 2013 page on Facebook.