An intrepid team of willing individuals have taken part in an arctic trek in Finland, raising an incredible £23,251 for local life-saving charity, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT).

Taking place over five days in March, the 21 ‘trekkers’ undertook a series of challenges that included snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and husky sledding – all which tested their stamina and endurance.

One of the artic trekkers was Rob Haslam. He lives in Hatfield Heath and has his own project management consultancy, JBJ Associates, which specialises in delivering sustainable and green energy and reducing clients’ energy bills.

Rob had previously undertaken EHAAT’s Sahara Trek in 2022 and found it such an incredible experience that he had no hesitation in signing up for the Arctic Adventure.

He said: “The Sahara Trek sounded like something completely different and fun and I had no idea what a complete emotional rollercoaster it was going to be. After that, signing up for the Finland trek was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

“Not only was the trek a way to escape from the world, but I got to meet a real mixture of great people and spent a large amount of the time just laughing – the moment we ‘all’ completed the snowshoeing on the third day was a crazy achievement, never to be forgotten! I have felt totally privileged meeting members of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance team who came with us. They do incredible work, every day, and being able to help and contribute was the least I could do.”

Acting as an agent for Discover Adventure, EHAAT laid on Trek 2023 as part of its annual trek programme, providing a more adventurous way for people to raise funds for the charity.

Emma Barker, Head of Income Generation at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, added: “What I love most about our treks is the way in which they bring people together. The atmosphere is supportive; we always send a representative from our charity to participate and to keep spirits high. The challenge element, integral to all our treks, is the very thing that bonds our trekkers and many of them form friendships for life. They are all amazing and every year they generate much-needed funds for the charity. We are so grateful to each and every one of them.”

For more information on way you can support Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, or to donate visit https://www.ehaat.org.