Win £1,300 for an Adventure (My Expedition Grant Just Trebled)

I am thrilled to announce that, thanks to the backing of Mark Beaumont, Al Humphreys and others, The Next Challenge Expedition Grant is now worth a whopping £1,200 £1,300. Apply here.

How has this happened?

• First, I offered the £200 that my website made in advertising last year.
• Then, 100 people each threw in £2 of their own money to bring us to £400.
• Now, five six other adventurers volunteered to chip in too (plus, some other kind donors gave money through Al’s website too).
• UPDATE: Dave Cornthwaite has just joined the team bringing our total to £1,300!

Here’s the team:

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Tom Allen

Tom’s cycled in over 40 different countries, made the awesome film Janapar and published some great books on cycling.

Travel and adventure has played a huge role in my life, a teacher of countless life lessons that I couldn’t have learned any other way. I’m proud to be part of a grant-giving project to give others that same opportunity.

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Mark Beaumont

Mark’s a TV presenter, broadcaster and world record holder, best known as The Man Who Cycled The World.

Getting to the start of any adventure is the hardest part – actually committing to take on your big idea and then raise the support. This grant is unlikely to cover all the costs, but I hope is a catalyst to get you going. And you can also pick each of our brains for advice – but beware, we are a motley crew with some odd ideas of what defines good fun!”

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Margaret Bowling

Margaret is a multiple ocean rowing record holder and TV producer/production manager, specialising in travel and adventure documentaries.

I grew up in Tasmania, where adventure is just what you do on the weekends. I’d love everyone to have that same opportunity. So I urge you all, regardless of whether you are awarded a grant or not, to make adventure just what you do on the weekends. Instead of ‘wild’ swimming or camping, make it just swimming or camping. Instead of going on an ‘expedition’ just head off on a trip for a bit. Make adventure your everyday. “

Leon McCarron

Leon McCarron is a Northern Irish adventurer and filmmaker. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and specialises in long distance, human-powered expeditions.

Leon was far too busy enjoying himself on a bike somewhere in Italy to write anything for us. But we’ve taken his silence as consent to give away his hard earned money to a stranger.”

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Dave Cornthwaite

Dave has completed eleven non-motorised journeys over 1000 miles, including skateboarding across Australia, paddleboarding the Mississippi and swimming the Lower Missouri.

I could harp on and on about how useless adventure is unless the experience and lessons and motivation trickles down to other people. But instead I just like this idea a lot, so here’s some cash. And I’d like to help the grant-winner(s) however I can, because money is just a little bit of all this stuff.

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You, the Public

Finally, this grant is supported by donations from members of the public. 100 people have opened their wallets to contribute towards making someone else’s adventure happen. I think that’s pretty special.

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So, got an adventure idea?

Read the criteria and apply here.