Twenty-one travel professionals are trekking in Colombia to support charitable causes this March.
- The initiative aims to raise essential funds for Abta LifeLine and Planeterra.
- Participants will traverse nearly 30 miles of challenging jungle terrain over five days.
- The trek emphasises community support and sustainable tourism in Colombia.
- Industry leaders urge more donations to ease challenges such as cost of living and illness.
In a remarkable effort to drive community support, twenty-one dedicated travel professionals are preparing for an ambitious trek in Colombia. This challenging initiative, scheduled for March 13-24, is organised to raise much-needed funds for Abta LifeLine and Planeterra. The trek will cover approximately 30 miles through the dense Colombian jungle, testing participants with its arduous conditions, including a strenuous 1,200-step ascent to the famed Lost City.
Led by G Adventures, the ‘G Trek For Good’ is designed not merely as a show of endurance but as a testament to the collective strength of the travel industry. Brian Young, overseeing the venture as EMEA managing director of G Adventures, alongside Trudie Clements, director of Abta LifeLine, has issued a rallying cry for increased donations. Young stresses that this is not a luxury excursion, with participants self-funding their journey to ensure all contributions directly support the cause.
This year’s edition marks the third ‘G Trek For Good’, building on the successes of previous treks to Mount Toubkal and Mount Kilimanjaro. The Colombian trek distinguishes itself by the unique challenges posed by jungle conditions, including high humidity and the presence of insects and wildlife threats, noticeably differing from the mountain terrains of previous years. As Clements notes, the trek presents a formidable physical and mental ordeal, yet it’s the resolute backing from G Adventures, ProColombia, and peer support through a dedicated WhatsApp group that fortifies their resolve.
The initiative takes on added urgency as it seeks to address pressing issues within the travel sector. According to Clements, applications for aid have surged since the year’s onset, underscoring the critical need for support amidst rising living costs and personal hardships such as illness and bereavement. Abta LifeLine’s current focus is on providing essentials like food vouchers to affected families, an indication of the breadth of the challenges faced.
Proceeds from the trek will significantly bolster Planeterra’s efforts in establishing a sustainable community tourism initiative in Colombia, with support from ProColombia. The initiative has garnered sponsorship from notable entities including easyJet holidays, Kuoni, and JetBlue, alongside others such as Barrhead Travel and The Travel Network Group. Their backing, as highlighted by Clements, underscores a shared belief in the transformative impact of this venture, which aims to uplift communities and provide tangible relief through fundraising efforts.
The G Trek for Good exemplifies collaboration within the travel industry to foster positive change through community support.
