Stars Appeal Petra trekkers return from ‘toughest ever challenge’

On Sunday 1st May the Stars Appeal Petra trekkers safely returned to the UK. Love Salisbury caught up with some of the team to hear about their experiences.

When the 35 local residents set out on the Stars Appeal trek across the Jordan desert to the ancient city of Petra, they knew they were in for a challenge – but trekking up 12 miles a day for 6 days across rocky and sandy desert in 40°C temperatures was far tougher than any of them had expected.

“Nothing in our training could have prepared us for those temperatures – they were around 10° higher than the norm for this time of year,” said Jo Maslen, the volunteer who organises the treks for the Stars Appeal.

“Our regular trekkers, who’ve dealt with heat, harsh terrain and altitude in our previous treks, all agreed this was the toughest yet.”

Every day offered beautiful and varied scenery, difficult walking, and time to get to know other trekkers as they shared sweets, blister plasters and stories.

On perhaps their most challenging day, the trekkers climbed the equivalent of Mount Snowdon (1142m) in 38°C, and tackled precarious rocky ledges and rubbly ravines.

Rather than recharging in a comfortable hotel after each day’s walking, they slept in desert camps, on mats in very basic tents, with no showers, one toilet cabin and no electricity. No wonder they all enjoyed the one river they came across so much, as well as the chance to relive the day’s highlights and hiccups over dinner in camp every night.

As second-time Stars Appeal trekker Anita Goddard, from Harnham, said, “I feel I’ve earned every penny of my fundraising.”

First-time trekker Melanie Howard, from Salisbury, said, “The trek was tough, conditions and terrain far harsher than I’d expected. I loved every single minute. Great organisation, fantastic guides, sharing the experiences and forging the friendships – I didn’t believe I would feel a part of the ‘trekking family’ – how wrong I was!”

Despite – or perhaps because of – the hardships, every single trekker crossed the finish line at Petra together on the last day of trekking. They were led in by Grace Prince, the oldest trekker and recently retired from Salisbury District Hospital, on her second trek for the Stars Appeal.

Even then, the day at Petra was no easy sightseeing day. It’s a huge and impressive site, with 800 steps down from the Monastery to the centre of the ancient city, and very little shade as they walked more than 5 miles through the site.

Back in the UK, the trekkers have been able to gather their thoughts about the trek. And many of them are looking forward to joining the Stars Appeal’s next fundraising trek, in spring 2024.

Jo Maslen says, “Our trekkers have really shown they’re made of strong stuff, but we couldn’t have succeeded in this challenge without supportive friends and families and generous sponsors at home, and our Discover Adventure leaders and doctor and the local crew (including the lovely donkeys) in Jordan.”

Now it’s time to add up how much the trekkers have raised for the Stars Appeal.

With extra donations still coming in as friends and family hear about their extraordinary adventures, the trekkers expect to have raised more than £60,000 with the grand total being announced at a special event next month.

Everything they raise will go to help hundreds of patients at Salisbury District Hospital and support the NHS staff who care for them. You can find out more about the projects the trekkers are supporting here.

The destination for Stars Appeal Trek ’24 will be announced in June, with an Information Evening coming this autumn. Watch the Stars Appeal website and Facebook page for more details.