Leaders employees take on 100 mile South Downs challenge in memory of Horsham adventurer Rob Gauntlett

Leaders are pleased to be supporting their employees Josh Weller, Bradley Weller and Charlotte Read in their challenge to walk 100 miles across the South Downs Way in four days.

The three, along with friend Tom Gilbert – all from Horsham - are raising money in memory of their cousin and friend, the young adventurer Rob Gauntlett, who died tragically at the age of 21 whilst climbing in the French Alps in 2009.

Rob, who was also from Horsham, was the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest and was accredited National Geographic Adventurer of the year for his 22,000 mile manpowered Pole to Pole expedition in 2007-8. Leaders were proud to sponsor Rob in both endeavours and are delighted to now sponsor Josh, Bradley and Charlotte in their South Downs challenge. 

“Rob was an inspiration to so many people,” says Josh, “and we want to raise money in his memory for a cause that we know he would fully support. Before Rob died he had mentioned that he would like to try and improve the lives of others not so fortunate in Africa. So we are raising money for The Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, a small non-governmental UK registered charity which aims to lift Ugandan children out of poverty through education.”

The Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, whose Patrons are Prince William and Prince Harry, forms partnerships with schools and invests in buildings and educational resources to ensure that even the poorest children have access to high quality education.

It is passionate, efficient and consultative, with a long term involvement in each school and area, and provides an excellent example of good African development.

Says Josh: “One of the schools the charity works with is Nalango Secondary School in Uganda, which Rob’s Trust has helped to build from nothing but bare earth to 5 classrooms and 8 latrines.

But it is the only secondary school in the area and is growing. It urgently needs additional facilities for its teachers and pupils. By the end of this year The Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund is hoping to provide the school with 4 teachers’ houses, 3 water tanks, 35 desks and £1000 worth of Textbooks. We would like to raise as much money as possible through our South Downs Challenge to contribute to these vital improvements for this growing school.”

The walk will start in Winchester on 4th August and finish in Eastbourne on the 7th. If you would like to show your support by sponsoring Josh Weller, Charlotte Read or Bradley Weller then please follow the link to their Just Giving page where you can also find out more about the chosen charity www.justgiving.com/teams/south-downs-way

For advice you can trust on all aspects of renting or letting in Horsham please contact Leaders on 01403 217585 or email horsham@leaders.co.uk

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