A week of challenges met

Luke with Rotary volunteer Steve playing ‘pirates’ on Bassenthwaite

The Calvert Trust is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Its motto: “Challenging Disability Through Outdoor Adventure” says it all; it is a residential centre for families and groups with one or more disabled members.

For several decades the Rotary Clubs in the East Midlands have hired the centre on the shores of Bassenthwaite in the Lake District to give people with a range of disabilities the chance to face challenges and, by overcoming their anxieties, to increase their self-confidence.

Towards the end of each year, Rotary clubs identify people they want to sponsor for the week’s adventure holiday the following April. Bradgate Rotary selected 19-year-old Luke. After meeting Luke for the first time, Bradgate Rotary member Jim Matthews quipped to Event leaders Mark Winfield, from Rushden, and Janet Sinclair, from Loughborough: “Well, we won’t lose Luke – he’s 6ft 5in.” Quickly came the reply that another participant, Josh, is 6ft 8in! Twenty-one-year-old twin brothers from Lincolnshire were also 6ft 5in tall, as was a 19-year-old from Daventry.

Along with 18 other candidates – along with seven Rotary volunteers – spent six days together. Split into three non-competitive teams, they took part in an evening walk, rafting/canoeing, cycling on recumbent bikes, orienteering, archery, ‘rock and rope’ climbing with abseiling and speeding down a zip wire.

Luke, in the red crash helmet, in the queue as the cyclists greet a passing dog

On The Thursday, all teams of all abilities came together for a 7.5 mile hike up – and down – Carl’s Pike, next to Skiddaw, which is the Lake District’s fourth highest point at 1,000 metres above sea level.

Luke waiting for his turn at the archery

Those who had the energy – excluding most of the Rotary volunteers! – took part in the traditional end-of-week disco.

You can follow this link to see Luke and Jim go head-to-head at the archery. https://youtu.be/9CbXzMEctG4

Jim Matthews said that his favourite memories were seeing Luke build up a special relationship with a 19-year-old non-verbal quadriplegic. “Luke is clearly a wonderfully-caring young man. He had this humbling, empathy with his new pal. Luke told me that at primary school he had a cerebral palsy friend who had died,” said Jim.

All candidates received a personalised photo album during breakfast before boarding the coach back to the M1 services at Leicester Forest East the following morning.
There were tears, hugs and handshakes as families and friends collected their candidates before they left for their homes across the Midlands.

Summit to be proud of… the entire team with Skiddaw in the background

Luke and his new pal – who used an eye-tracking computer – exchanged contact details It seems very likely that the two 19-year-olds will long maintain their friendship and their memories of the third week of April 2026.

Friendship formed… Luke shows his new-found friend his photo album full of memories