Our Story
Established in 2012 we are a not-for-profit run by the charity Dig Deep. We care about people - the lives that we transform together in Kenya through your fundraising, the local people who make your challenge happen, and you. We don't pay for the profits of UK middlemen. This means the registration fee that you pay is the most affordable and our fundraising target is the most achievable of any comparable fundraising challenge.
Support and Welbeing
We have been in your shoes. We are not asking you to do something we haven't done ourselves. All of our team have successfully taken on multiple challenge events themselves and so are best placed to provide the support you need.
We're here for you when you need us. We care about your well-being. We know that fundraising can be daunting, but the rewards are more than worth it. We've been there, and we're available for a natter if ever you need to unload.
You can do it, and you don't need to take our word for it. You will join the Dig Deep family of successful past and current fundraisers, who will be there to offer support, advice and encouragement. You don't need to find a friend to sign up with you because you'll be joining a much bigger community.
Personal and Professional Development
You will gain valuable experience and skills. In, amongst other things, events management, recruitment, marketing, fundraising, organisation, communications, logistics and public speaking. All this will help you develop your CV and give you a way to stand out from the crowd at interview.
You will have exclusive opportunities to intern with Dig Deep. We offer our fundraisers opportunities to broaden their experience and develop professional skills.
We can offer careers advice for progression into the third sector. We will make you aware of graduate opportunities, are happy to act as references for you when making job applications and offer an insight into what it is like to work for a charity.
Safe and Ethical
For all of our challenges safety is paramount. For example, we have provision for one crew member for every climber on summit night of our Kilimanjaro climbs, ensuring we achieve over 90% success rate of fundraisers reaching the summit.
We're committed to ensuring our ground staff receive fair wages and treatment. This approach has led to us being awarded Partner for Responsible Travel status by the Kilimanjaro Porters' Assistance Project (KPAP), the only UK charity to receive this award. Find out more about KPAP here.
We won't let you down. All of our challenges are covered by our comprehensive risk assessments which comply with British Standard 8848. Additionally, Dig Deep is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adheres to their guidelines.
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Simon Franklin
Operations and Finance Manager
Simon climbed Kilimanjaro twice and Mount Kenya alongside completing a PhD in Sports and Exercise Science at Birmingham Uni before joining Dig Deep full time in 2017.
His fundraising experience stretches back to 2013 where he first organised charity football and netball tournaments for his Kilimanjaro fundraising challenge.
As the Operations and Mass Participation Events Manager, he is responsible for the Dig Deep Challenges program of events and organises all of the challenge logistics to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable challenge experience.
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Samuel Abbs
Challenge Event Representative
Alongside studying politics at Loughborough University, Sam summited Kilimanjaro in 2022 with his sister. Fundraising within their community, they worked with the local church, pubs, and former schools to put on sports and social functions for locals to get actively involved in.
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Sam joins the team as Challenge Events Representative where he will be recruiting and supporting eager participants to take on the wide-ranging challenge opportunities that Dig Deep offer.
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Kate Bridle
Fundraising and Comms Assistant
Kate joined Dig Deep's Kilimanjaro Challenge as a team leader in 2019, whilst studying Marine Biology at the University of Exeter. Fundraising through covid, her team organised online events and challenges, and all successfully summited in the summer of 2022.
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Her love for the outdoors and enthusiasm for Dig Deep’s mission has led her to take on the role of Fundraising and Communications Assistant, where she will be able to support participants throughout their fundraising journeys and share their adventures with the online community.