Two Notts Guide Leaders are preparing for what they say is going to be ‘the challenge of a lifetime’ when they take part on a week-long trek to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca site high in the Peruvian Andes.
Gillian Kendall (pictured left) from Warren Hill in Arnold and Rebecca Scattergood (pictured right) from Toton will be leaving on 18 October to join 24 other Girlguiding members and supporters on the trek, which will take in landmarks like Dead Women’s Pass and the Sun Gate en route. They each have to raise £4,000 for the adventure, half of which will go into a special Girlguiding fund to help disadvantaged members. For links on how to support them, visit www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Scattergood and www.justgiving.com/Gillian-Kendall
Both women have been involved with Girlguiding since joining as Brownies. Rebecca Scattergood is now a Ranger Leader with Toton & Attenborough’s Senior Section, a group which caters for local girls and young women aged 14-25, whilst Gillian is Westdale Division Commissioner and supports units across Bakersfield, Carlton, Gedling, Mapperley, Netherfield, Sneinton, St Ann’s and Thorneywood.
‘Going to Peru will be a huge challenge, mainly because we’ll be climbing to altitudes of 4,200 metres or more,’ says Gillian. ‘But our training programme has already started and I’m even learning some Spanish!’
Rebecca is most looking forward to catching her first glimpse of the Inca citadel at the end of the trek. But she is keen to stress the importance of the challenge in terms of fund-raising to help others. ‘Having been part of Guiding for so long, I feel it’s my turn to give something back,’ she explains.
Gillian agrees: ‘I’m really hoping the money we’re raising through this challenge will allow more girls and young women to make the most of the opportunities which being a member of Girlguiding has opened up for me – whether that’s international travel, learning new skills or making new friendships.’
