Fundraisers train in Wicklow Mountains to prepare for Arctic challenge

A team of Sightsavers supporters attended a training day in the Wicklow Mountains to prepare for their upcoming Arctic fundraising adventure.

In January, the explorers will be taking on the First Light for Sight expedition to raise €75,000 for Sightsavers Ireland. They will be trekking across the Arctic Circle to reach a remote cabin, where they’ll watch the first sunrise of 2023.

During the training session in Wicklow, fundraisers met as a group for the first time and braved wet conditions during a challenging full day’s hike. Our partner Adventure.ie, which is training the team in Arctic survival skills, was on hand to lead the way and give advice on how to deal with adverse temperatures.

The Arctic challenge is the first event in a series of celebrations that will mark Sightsavers Ireland’s 20th anniversary. Each fundraiser aims to raise at least €5,000 towards the total goal, with the aim of providing 2,343 sight-saving operations in the countries where we work.