9 Edges Charity Challenge

Our 2026 UK summer team challenge is taking place in the Peak District National Park!

This September – and following the success of our 2023 London to Paris cycle, our Thames Path Challenge in 2024 and last year’s Highland Hike – this event is set to be our best yet! Aligning the day’s challenge with activities in Malawi, our 9 Edges Challenge is being organised by a dedicated team of BPF ambassadors: Ross Chipperton, Keith Atkinson, James Herbert, Iain McGeary, Duncan Macdonald and Connor Stapley.

Event Overview

• Dates: Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September 2026
• Challenge day: Saturday 12 September 2026
• Location: Peak District National Park
• The event: BPF’s 9 EDGES CHALLENGE – a full-day team hike across a rural route in the Peak District, taking in a series of well-known edges and trails. The hike is designed as an intermediate-level group challenge, with participants walking together, supporting one another and sharing in the experience from start to finish. The nine ‘edges’ are: Derwent > Stanage > Upper Burbage > Lower Burbage > Froggatt > Curbar > Baslow > Gardom’s > Birchen.

Planned itinerary

Friday 11 September

• Team meet-up in the Peak District (accommodation check-in)
• Informal evening team drinks
• Overnight B&B accommodation in the Peak District

Saturday 12 September – Challenge Day

• Early breakfast
• Minibus taxi pick-up at 5.30 am (to fully maximise the day’s light)
• Full-day 23-mile team hike for the 9 Edges Challenge – estimated to take 10-12 hours
• Time on the trail to connect and work together as a team – plus we’ll link-up with BPF Malawi in Lilongwe via video call
• Grab a drink at the pub at the end of our hike before our minibus taxis pick us up
• Celebratory team supper
• Overnight B&B accommodation in the Peak District

Sunday 13 September

• Team breakfast
• Depart for home

Final logistical information will be shared closer to the event and will include meeting points, travel guidance, accommodation information and hiking prep support.

Bringing Malawi to our challenge experience

As with all BPF challenges, the 9 Edges Challenge will connect directly to the lives of the young people and communities BPF supports in Malawi. During our hiking challenge, we plan to bring Malawi to our experience in the following ways:

• Relating our walking distance to daily commutes made by BPF staff, coaches and program participants in Malawi
• Wearing Malawi-style clothing and branded team kit
• Equating the total distance walked to the length of Lake Malawi
• Sharing stories and insights from BPF coaches and young people in Malawi at key points along the route
• Carrying meaningful items that represent our partnership with Malawi, chosen in collaboration with the BPF team
• Exploring footwear choices that reflect everyday realities in Malawi
• We’ll connect with BPF’s Malawi team during the challenge day, as they engage in their own fun activities

These elements aim to build understanding, empathy and connection, while keeping the experience inclusive, safe and team-focused. And… we welcome your ideas!

Fundraising

To take part in BPF’s 9 Edges Challenge, participants will be asked to commit to a minimum individual fundraising requirement of £950. Together, the team will be working towards a collective fundraising goal of £25,000, helping BPF to continue to deliver youth sport for development programs in rural Malawi.

Join Us

This challenge is about more than distance or pace. It’s about teamwork, a shared effort, fun in a rural setting and supporting youth sport for development programs in Malawi.

We have 30 team spots available so get in touch ASAP to register – we’ll need a £50 deposit from you to confirm your place on the team. The anticipated cost for the weekend is £190 per person which includes:

• Two nights bed and breakfast accommodation
• Two pre-booked minibus taxi team trips – to the start of the hike on Saturday morning plus our evening pick-up at the end of the hike
• Saturday night’s team supper
• Team branded ‘stash’
• A fully coordinated weekend event – from meeting up on Friday evening through to Sunday morning

Get in touch to register your place.

We look forward to having you join another fun and successful event with BPF!