A fitness instructor is organising a long walk and wild camp to raise money for Ukrainian refugees and create a greater awareness of the conditions they endure.
Natalie Bell, who set up Fitness by Natalie during lockdown, has enlisted a group of women aged between 19 and 69 to take part in a trek from her home in Winlaton, Gateshead, to Hedley on the Hill in Northumberland. The participants, who vary in ability, will only be able to bring basic essentials on their journey in order to better understand the story of millions of refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine.
Natalie, 40, said: "I've got a five-year-old daughter and I've been following the news a lot and I see these poor families being separated. It breaks my heart when I see the families being separated at the train station.
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"It really pulled on my heartstrings, especially being a mum and understanding how hard that would be to be separated from your family and leaving your husband or older relatives behind, but knowing it's about survival. I just thought being a parent is so hard, but to have to deal with [the war] and keep your children safe, fed and clothed at the same time - I just thought I have to do something to help."
Natalie and a team of 10 women, known as 'The Good Vibe Tribe', will set off on the approximately eight mile trek on April 30. Natalie's 69-year-old mum will also take part in the challenge.
They will wild camp for one night in Hedley on the Hill in two-man tents supplied by a group member who works in a school, before heading back to Winlaton the following day. And while Natalie joked that the group originally thought they would be able to bring luxuries such as wine to enjoy during their wild camp, she is ensuring that only the bare essentials will be brought on the journey.
Natalie said: "We're really going to go back to basics. I want to really strip it down and simulate in the only way we can what the refugees are having to do. They're having to leave the house with whatever they can and walk for miles."
"We've borrowed some two-man tents from one of my clients who works in a school and it's going to be really basic living for one night so we can really appreciate what they're having to do in Ukraine and what's happening.
"I also want this to test us, not physically, but mentally, and really appreciate what we have. When it's stripped back we realise how lucky we are in this country.", she added.
Natalie said 'The Good Vibe Tribe' is always looking to raise money for charity and recently completed the This Girl Can event in Newcastle's Exhibition Park to raise money for Women's Aid Newcastle. They have also previously raised money for Cancer Research.
After feeling "helpless" about the crisis in Ukraine, Natalie developed her idea for her latest fundraiser with the aim to help Ukrainian refugees and raise money and awareness of the conditions they face. She added that she also hoped the challenge would take her clients out of their comfort zone.
Natalie said: "I brought the idea to the group to see how they felt about it and I was really pleased with the response. Yes they're apprehensive and a bit anxious about it, because it's a long walk and they're really having to test their limits but our group support each other.
"They know it's going to be hard and it's going to be tough, but I believe in everyone and I know we can do it."
For more information and to donate to 'The Good Vibe Tribe's' fundraiser for Ukraine visit their JustGiving page via this link.
