As I trudged up Flodigarry with my fellow trekkers, the gentle morning mist cleared to reveal a dramatic vista of black cliffs and jagged rock formations. We were tackling the Trotternish Ridge for CoppaFeel!, a charity that campaigns against breast cancer in young people. The 100km trek would take us through some of Skye's most breathtaking landscapes – sea cliffs, mountains, ruined castles, bogs, and rivers.
Most of our group of 120 walkers were female, with six famous faces among us to spur us on. We were a rowdy bunch, laughing and joking as we set off into the unknown. However, I had never been out in the hills with so many other women before. The camaraderie was palpable from the start.
Our day's trek began innocently enough, but weather conditions quickly turned nasty. A howling wind greeted us at the Quiraing pass, and we had to force our way down, shrieking laughter and whoops of excitement as we descended into the clouds.
Many of my fellow walkers were novice mountain trekkers. Some had never even set foot in Scotland before. Yet, despite the brutal weather conditions, morale remained high. When a torrential downpour forced us to pause for shelter, we broke into spontaneous renditions of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', belting out the iconic opera rock song with gusto.
Back at our campsite in Uig, after a scorching hot lasagne feast courtesy of Glasgow caterer Really Delicious, we gathered around the fire pit, sharing stories and swapping tips. The event was organised by CoppaFeel! in partnership with Charity Challenge, which specialises in adventure challenges like this one.
Charity Challenge has seen a huge surge in demand for these types of events since Covid-19 hit. Businesses are using them to boost team morale and employee mental health, while charities gain vital income and visibility. CoppaFeel!'s record is nothing short of impressive – £2 million raised last year alone!
The first few days passed in a blur as we conquered five different routes around Trotternish. The Northernmost Peninsula on Skye proved breathtakingly beautiful, with light changing across the sea between Scotland and the Outer Hebrides.
However, this trek was more than just about scenery – it was about creating a safe space for people to share their stories and connect over their experiences of breast cancer. Many walkers had personal connections to the illness, either through diagnosis or treatment themselves or that of loved ones.
As we walked, deep conversations flowed freely, breaking down barriers around stigma. By day three, our campsite had been visited by local locals who were drawn in by the commotion. Some even joined us for a drink or two, sharing stories and laughter with the group.
One woman shared her personal experience of chronic illness and life before diagnosis – it was an easy conversational flow and then suddenly she fell behind to chat with someone else - only later realising she had never said it aloud before.
As we crossed the finish line on our final day, tears flowed freely. We hugged each other tightly, beaming with pride at what we'd achieved together. The fundraising total was staggering – over £500,000 raised for CoppaFeel! by 120 women who had braved the rough trails of Skye.
Most of our group of 120 walkers were female, with six famous faces among us to spur us on. We were a rowdy bunch, laughing and joking as we set off into the unknown. However, I had never been out in the hills with so many other women before. The camaraderie was palpable from the start.
Our day's trek began innocently enough, but weather conditions quickly turned nasty. A howling wind greeted us at the Quiraing pass, and we had to force our way down, shrieking laughter and whoops of excitement as we descended into the clouds.
Many of my fellow walkers were novice mountain trekkers. Some had never even set foot in Scotland before. Yet, despite the brutal weather conditions, morale remained high. When a torrential downpour forced us to pause for shelter, we broke into spontaneous renditions of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', belting out the iconic opera rock song with gusto.
Back at our campsite in Uig, after a scorching hot lasagne feast courtesy of Glasgow caterer Really Delicious, we gathered around the fire pit, sharing stories and swapping tips. The event was organised by CoppaFeel! in partnership with Charity Challenge, which specialises in adventure challenges like this one.
Charity Challenge has seen a huge surge in demand for these types of events since Covid-19 hit. Businesses are using them to boost team morale and employee mental health, while charities gain vital income and visibility. CoppaFeel!'s record is nothing short of impressive – £2 million raised last year alone!
The first few days passed in a blur as we conquered five different routes around Trotternish. The Northernmost Peninsula on Skye proved breathtakingly beautiful, with light changing across the sea between Scotland and the Outer Hebrides.
However, this trek was more than just about scenery – it was about creating a safe space for people to share their stories and connect over their experiences of breast cancer. Many walkers had personal connections to the illness, either through diagnosis or treatment themselves or that of loved ones.
As we walked, deep conversations flowed freely, breaking down barriers around stigma. By day three, our campsite had been visited by local locals who were drawn in by the commotion. Some even joined us for a drink or two, sharing stories and laughter with the group.
One woman shared her personal experience of chronic illness and life before diagnosis – it was an easy conversational flow and then suddenly she fell behind to chat with someone else - only later realising she had never said it aloud before.
As we crossed the finish line on our final day, tears flowed freely. We hugged each other tightly, beaming with pride at what we'd achieved together. The fundraising total was staggering – over £500,000 raised for CoppaFeel! by 120 women who had braved the rough trails of Skye.
I mean, this is just incredible 
. A 100km trek on Skye to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer in young people? Sounds like a total adrenaline rush (and not just from all the whisky they must've had at that lasagne feast 
). But what really gets me is how much it meant to everyone involved. I mean, who doesn't love a good cry-fest at the finish line, am I right? 
The fact that people were sharing their personal stories and connecting over their experiences of breast cancer... that's just beautiful 
.
. I'm sure CoppaFeel! will use it to do some amazing things for the cause. Charity challenges are so underrated - they're not just about pushing people to their limits (although, I mean, who needs that much exercise? 
. I've always wanted to try something like this, but I think my sniping skills would just get in the way of the whole 'spontaneous renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody' vibe 
.
they're prob just doin it for the clout and to show off on instagram. and dont even get me started on all these novice trekkers out here thinkin they can handle those harsh Scottish weather conditions... like, have you seen the wind speeds up there? it's insane! 
and then they're all sittin around the campfire singin "bohemian rhapsody" like nothin's wrong 
they're raising over £500k for CoppaFeel! which supports young people affected by breast cancer 
the camaraderie and bonding among these novice trekkers is truly inspiring 
and then just break into a rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' when things get tough 
I think what struck me most about this story is how the participants came together despite their differences - it's a powerful reminder that we're all in this together 
. It just goes to show that when we create safe spaces for vulnerability and openness, amazing things can happen 
. And it's so inspiring to see a group of women, many of whom were novice mountain trekkers, push past their fears and come out on top 
. It's a great lesson in the power of resilience and community 
but on the other hand... I mean, I love how everyone came together to support a good cause and stuff, but at the same time, aren't these events just super expensive for people to participate in? And what about those who can't afford it? Like, isn't that kinda unfair? 
coppafeel is doing such amazing work helping young ppl with breast cancer 
and i'm not surprised they smashed their fundraising goal 
120 women from all walks of life tackling the tough Trotternish Ridge together is just incredible 
businesses are using these events to boost morale & employee mental health too, which is everything we need more of 
This charity trek sounds like an amazing way to connect with others and raise awareness for a great cause 
. It's incredible to see how something as tough as a 100km trek can bring people together like that 
I've got friends who did something similar and it was basically just a week-long camping trip with a bunch of strangers... oh wait, there were over 120 women doing it, so that's more like it! 
, fighting breast cancer while enjoying the beautiful scenery 
can't wait to hear more about these kinds of charity events 
It's amazing how something as challenging as a 100km hike can bring people together like that. And the fact that it was for such an important cause – breast cancer awareness – makes it even more inspiring. 
how do you even prepare for something like that? I mean, I get it, it's for a good cause but wow... I'd be totally out of breath just walking to the pub let alone up a mountain 
and the fact that they had so many famous faces on it too is wild 
The whole vibe of the event was amazing, from the charity work to the camaraderie among the walkers. I've gotta say, I'm loving the idea of adventure challenges for team building – businesses are onto something here! 
.