ETHICAL TRAVELLER:I HAD TWO E-MAILS last week asking me to sponsor people on charity climbs. This is the beginning of what you might call peak season, when people scale the heights to raise funds. But the phenomenon is growing so fast that it is starting to throw up many other challenges.
Some of the best-known Irish fundraising outings, such as Focus Ireland’s Four Peaks Challenge, take place only once a year (from June 11th to 13th this year). In the UK, however, the Three Peaks Challenge sends at least 30,000 people up Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon through three seasons. I say “at least” because the challenge is ungoverned, and you are not obliged to sign up with an event organiser to take it on. Some put the figure closer to 60,000.
The summit of Ben Nevis is owned by the John Muir Trust, which was founded in 1983 to protect wild land against development. “I’ve seen organised parties of 800 on the ben in one day,” says John Hutchison, the charity’s chairman. “Access to the ben should always be free, but we would expect people who generate income from these events to put something back.”
The trust is working with the Institute of Fundraising, in London, to create a code of practice. “This code needs to be followed by fundraisers,” says Louise Richards, the institute’s director of policy. “An important part of promoting best practice also involves exposing bad practice.”
Many people are also now looking for challenges abroad, but shop around to see which organisers have ethical policies. One event organiser states on its website: “At least 60 per cent of the money you raise goes directly to charity – the balance is the cost of the challenge, such as flights and accommodation.”
No mention of substantial social and environmental costs to the hosts. I don’t doubt their impressive fundraising records, but no charity should take destinations for granted. Some argue that the hosts benefit financially, but that’s not true if everyone drives into town at dawn, climbs a mountain and leaves at dusk.
In contrast, Charity Challenge (charitychallenge. com), which also offers worldwide challenges, has a detailed responsible-tourism policy. It commits, among many ethical steps, to a donation of $500 (€365) per group to a community project. (And a group should contain no more than 20 people.)
Mountaineering Ireland’s chief officer, Karl Boyle, is also concerned about unsustainable growth. “Mountaineering Ireland supports challenge walks and charity climbs once the event promotes Leave No Trace principles and is managed sustainably.”
Indeed, many work with Leave No Trace (leavenotrace ireland.org), a network of organisations and individuals advising on everything from waste disposal to low-impact walking. Events such as the Beast of Ballyhoura, Gael Force West and those organised by Acara, which helps set up charity challenges, have all taken a lead, says Beverley Pierson of Leave No Trace. “Each event creates its own impacts, and each impact can be devastating to the environment. More and more event organisers are now starting to show their concern and thinking about ways to reduce these effects.”
Focus Ireland’s fundraising director, Mark Mellett, says it won’t respond to the surge in demand for challenges by developing countless more climbs, favouring instead one-off events.
If charities like his continue to keep an eye on their potential impact, they can have my sponsorship money again and again.
ethicaltraveller.net and twitter.com/catherinemack