Onelife Challenge 2019 #10for10

‘Liz, what’s the vision for Onelife?!’

It was 4am in a car park in Yorkshire, and Pete Wynter had shoved his phone in my face to film my response as we began the Yorkshire Three Peaks for the Onelife Challenge. Needless to say, my response was less than inspiring!

As we set off and found our pace for the journey there was an incredible sense of team – no, of family – which grew for each one of us as we walked...and walked...and walked… to reach the goal of completing the three peaks in 12 hours!

To call it a fundraiser doesn't quite do it justice: something special seems to happen when the ingredients of people sacrificing time, effort and comfort for a vision they love come together

The annual challenge has been part of Onelife’s year since the very beginning – from kayaking down the Thames to running Tough Mudder, every year people come together to unite under our vision to see young people and students equipped to be godly, characterful leaders in their schools, universities and future careers. To call it a fundraiser doesn't quite do it justice: something special seems to happen when the ingredients of people sacrificing time, effort and comfort for a vision they love, and which has already touched their own lives in some way, come together.

My first experience of the ‘Onelife Challenge effect’ occurred a few years ago, just after I had joined the staff team. The challenge that year was to run a relay race from Dover Castle to London Bridge in 24 hours! We recruited a team of people to run, hired a minibus and mapped out our route. We trained, planned and asked for the backing of anyone who would listen – but it wasn't until I was running through the streets of London at 2am on a Saturday night with a guy called Ali next to me that I really felt the impact.

Ali had grown up through Onelife and attended the School of Leadership, and now, here he was – giving up his weekend to run through the night, grabbing sleep on a minibus while waiting his turn – all to raise money so that others could experience what he already had.

That's when it hit me. I was part of something much bigger than me, much bigger than the team who had planned it. I was part of a movement of people who had experienced friendship, who had been equipped to live and lead in a way which enabled others to thrive and ultimately pointed towards to Jesus. Ali continued to track with Onelife and is now leading in business – he is also now one of our amazing trustees!

Whether running through the middle of the night, trekking around the Isle of Wight, paddling down the Thames, hiking up Ben Nevis or crawling through mud under cargo nets, everyone who has undertaken the Onelife Challenge shares a vision of our society becoming peppered with characterful leaders who are equipped to lead.

This year, we are hosing down the walking boots once again and preparing to walk the Ten Tors in Dartmoor for ten years of Onelife on 7–8 June. Would you join us in fuelling the vision by getting involved? Or, could you sponsor us to help see another ten years of releasing and training young people to become exceptional leaders in every sphere?

If you’re over 18 and want to join in with our #10for10 challenge there are still a few places left. Just send an email to info@onelifeleaders.com to find out more!

Make sure you’re following @onelifeleaders on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to speed with our progress.