Samantha Nuckey completes Inca Trail charity challenge

Samantha Nuckey, Director at BJ Waller, Window Ware and The Joinery Network, shares her thoughts after successfully completing the PiGs AKA People in Glazing Society charity challenge, trekking the Inca Trail, raising money for Harry’s Pals.

“It is still surreal that the Harry’s Pals Challenge has been and gone, and we actually did it. Standing at the Sun Gate and looking down at Machu Picchu for the first time, a wave of pure emotion and realisation hit me.

“This month, I joined a group of us from the fenestration industry trading our usual day jobs for hiking boots and trekking poles to take on the legendary Inca Trail in Peru.

“It was an brutal challenge, but I am incredibly proud to say that together, we raised a staggering £50,000 for Harry’s Pals—a charity so close to our hearts that supports parents of severely ill or disabled children.

“To say it was a tough week is an understatement. My body is still recovering, I think, and I feel fitter than I have for years after burning roughly 8,000 calories in just four days.

“The high altitude was hard to train for and hit all of us almost immediately, turning every single breath into a massive effort and making our heads spin or worse.

“The trail brought out the absolute best and worst in all of us, we tackled what felt like innumerable, never-ending steep stone steps.

“Pushing my body up to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 meters was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but the banter and shared grit of the team kept me putting one foot in front of the other as I know it did others.

“But what goes up must come down, and the sharp downhills paved with uneven stone steps were an absolute killer on my legs and knees and ensured that I was in bed, warm and fed by 7.30pm every night!

“It was pure magic though.  Every painful step was worth it for the scenery. It was completely breathtaking—surreal cloud forests, massive peaks, and ancient ruins. Seeing wildlife and birds so entirely different from back home was something I’ll never forget.

“When we finally walked into Machu Picchu, the sudden shift was a massive shock to the system. After four days of peaceful isolation in the mountains, the overwhelming and annoying crowds at the citadel were hard to take in.

“We pushed ourselves to the absolute limit, relied on each other to get through the darkest miles, and secured a life-changing sum for Harry’s Pals. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to everyone who supported us.”

There’s still time to donate to Samantha, simply by clicking here: Samantha Nuckey is fundraising for Harry’s Pals