THE PDSA are inviting readers of OUR CATS to choose a challenge of a lifetime! Whether it’s cycling from London to Paris, hiking Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, horse trekking in Central Mongolia, trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, climbing Kilimanjaro or deg sledding in Sweden, leading veterinary charity, PDSA, is offering animal lovers with a passion for travel and adventure the ultimate challenge of a lifetime.

PDSA challenges are ideal for those looking for a unique opportunity to experience differences in cultures, scenery and wildlife whilst raising runds for the UK’s leading veterinary charity.
PDSA is now recruiting for the 2006/2007 challenges which include:

Hadrian’s Wall Weekend - A three day walk retracing the steps of the Romans. Ideal for families as children aged 12 and over are welcome to attend with their parents/guardians, plus the family dog can also come. Taking place from 14-16 July 2006, the registration deadline is 31 May 2006. The minimum sponsorship target is £349, which must be paid by 7 July 2006. A registration fee of £50 is payable on booking.

Central Mongolia - Horse trekking in the remote valleys of the Khangai mountain range in Central Mongolia. Taking place from 11-21 August 2006, the registration deadline is 30 April 2006. The minimum sponsorship target is £1,999, which must be paid by 4 August 2006. A registration fee of £225 is payable on booking.

Peru - The opportunity to trek on the high remote mountain trails. Taking place from 23 September-2 October 2006, the registration deadline is 31 May 2006. The minimum sponsorship target is £2,650, which must be paid by 8 September 2006. A registration fee of £349 is payable on booking.

Sweden - With a team of experts, PDSA challenge participants will travel to Raftalvern in Sweden to drive a team of four or five Husky dogs. Before embarking on a breathtaking 150km journey, there’s the opportunity to get to know the dogs, their feeding routine and how to drive the sleds! Taking place from 25 February-3 March 2007, the registration deadline is 31 August 2006. The minimum sponsorship target is £2,399, which must be paid by 31 January 2007. A £249 registration fee is payable on booking.

Twenty-eight-year-old Helen Ainsley was already a keen walker when she decided to take part in the 2005 Hadrian’s Wall Weekend.

Helen says: “I’ve completed the Great North Walk five times, so the Hadrian’s Wall challenge really appealed to me. It was a fantastic experience which gave me the opportunity to raise funds for pets in need of pets. It was a brilliant experience, plus I met a great group of people”.
Sixty-something granny, Carolyn Howie, took part in the 2005 South Africa challenge.
Carolyn says: “I lived in South Africa for 30 years before coming back to the UK to care for relatives, so the South Africa PDSA challenge was the perfect opportunity to revisit familiar places and experience new ones. It doesn’t matter what your age, there’s always time to seek new experiences”.

Linda Abel is a regular PDSA challenger, who has been to China, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Linda says: “The initial reason I took part in the PDSA challenge was as an incentive to lose weight and get fit, but now I’m hooked on the experiences each challenge brings! Whether you want to see a country you’ve never visited before, take part in an activity you’ve never tried or you simply want to raise funds for PDSA, then take the first step and order your challenge pack today!”

PDSA challenges for a lifetime include return scheduled economy class flights, accommodation, meals as detailed on the itinerary and local English speaking guides. PDSA also helps participants by providing full support including an A-Z list of fundraising ideas to help raise the sponsorship money required.

For information about any of the PDSA Challenges of a Lifetime, please call freephone number 0800 917 2509 or visit the PDSA website on www.pdsachallenge.org.uk

Editor’s Note: If any readers of OUR CATS are taking up a challenge, please let us know!