Fundraiser stories: Stuart Cox - Peak District Viking
Meet Stuart Cox, aka Peak District Viking, a YouTuber and social media influencer raising money for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust by getting sponsored for our Wildfire Walk.
This spring, Stuart Cox, aka Peak District Viking, a local YouTuber and social media influencer, has raised a fantastic £550 for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust by getting sponsored for this year's Wildfire Walk, part of the BMC Big Walking Weekend. Thank you Stuart!
Please give generously to Stuart's JustGiving page here.
There are still a few entries left for our Wildfire Walk in the Peak District from Hathersafe, Sat 30 May, join us if you can, walk it in your own time, or create your own locally. Details and entry here.
Fundraise for us anytime!
We welcome fundraising from anyone, anytime! If you're keen to help the BMC Access & Conservation Trust repair paths, conserve upland landscapes and habitats and restore the moorlands in our Mend Our Mountains and The Climate Project campaigns, here's everything you need to get started.
What is your day job?
I am a chartered engineer and currently business transformation lead in a large engineering consultancy. My background is aerospace and I worked at Rolls-Royce for 25 years before my current role.
Where are you based?
I am based in the beautiful village of Castleton. I have to pinch myself everyday when I wake up!
How did you get into the outdoors?
I was born in the 1960’s so my childhood was spent a lot in the outdoors. I was also in cubs and scouts, and became a scout leader too. My father was the one who lit the fire as he was also a scout leader and always encouraged us to get outdoors.
What do you love most about this passion of yours?
It gets me out into the most beautiful and interesting locations. I do say this country is the most beautiful on earth and stand by that. Also, all the amazing people I get to meet on my walks and though the social media channels. It’s good to know there are some likeminded people about.
Tell us more about your YouTube channel?
My Youtube channel is the The Peak District Viking. I have 12% viking DNA (as well as look the part) hence the title. I started it to share my hikes and wild camping but also to showcase the history of the area. I think too many people walk through a landscape with out really observing what is around them. As I like to say, “There is always something interesting nearby”.
What is the Wildfire Walk for those who don’t know about it?
The Peak District suffers from wildfires each year and it's only getting worse the more people visit. This walk is to raise funds for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust, hoping to raise £50,000 or more to fund everything from rangers, to educational posts, sphagnum moss planting, gully dams etc. All of this in partnership with other organisations such as Moors for the Future, Eastern Moors Partnership and the Peak District National Park Authority will help reduce the impact and occurrence of wildfires.
What made you decide to sign up?
I see the impact of these fires, in particular the devastating Goyt valley wildfire last year. I personally know people who helped put it out and the footage was harrowing - all down to a wild camper deciding to have a fire. Anything that can be done to help educate and reduce the risk has to be good.
What are you most looking forward to about the Wildfire Walk?
The walk itself, who doesn’t love a good walk, plus the scenery and wildlife but also meeting up with likeminded folk.
How is your sponsorship going?
I've smashed the £200 target and I've raised £550 so far! Thanks to all my YouTube and social media followers for their generosity!
What is your secret to raising a such a significant amount in sponsorship?
Explore all avenues, friends and family, social media and work colleagues and be persistent!
What are your top three tips for our awesome Wildfire Walk fundraisers to raise the most funds they can?
- Reach out to family and friends, work colleagues and social media
- Print some posters off and put them in local businesses and pubs
- Be persistent
How can the BMC Access & Conservation Trust encourage more people to be like you and take on sponsored challenges to raise money for us?
By inviting influencers to take part and promote them. Use social media to full advantage – I had not seen a lot about it online before being contacted.
What’s next for you with your Wildfire Walk training and fundraising?
Plenty of hill walking each week plus some calisthenics too. I will keep on sharing my efforts and asking people at to sponsor me at every opportunity. Work have agreed to publish the story in the internal newsletter and site along with the link to fundraising page once I have completed the walk. It doesn’t stop once you complete the walk!
What’s next with your YouTube channel - will you be filming the walk or a recce of it?
I'm going to film the walk, I will also use this to push the sponsorship too.
Anything else you’d like to share to BMC members and other BMC Access & Conservation Trust fundraisers?
Keep up the good work that you do and happy to support any events in the future.
More fundraiser stories
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Meet Stuart Cox, aka Peak District Viking, a YouTuber and social media influencer raising money for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust by getting sponsored for our Wildfire Walk.
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Meet Clive Allen, a long-time BMC member who since 2005 has been donating to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust through his 1% for the Planet commitment.
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Meet Emily Taylor, the BMC member who has chosen the BMC Access & Conservation Trust's Mend Our Mountains campaign for her trig point challenge this year.
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Meet Gregory Perdon, the BMC member who chose the BMC Access & Conservation Trust for his annual mountaineering fundraising challenge and raised almost £7,200!
Wildfire Walk
Sign up for our 18km sponsored Wildfire Walk from Hathersage, Sat 30 May, to help protect the Sheffield Moors from wildfire. This is part of the BMC Big Walking Weekend and supports our Wildfire Appeal which aims to raise £50,000 to safeguard Stanage, Burbage, Froggatt Edges and Curbar, areas deeply affected by recent fires.
BMC Big Hill Walking Weekend
Throughout the weekend we're running walks, talks, workshops and a chance to meet like-minded hikers, based in Edale, with additional satellite events like the Wildfire Walk from nearby Hathersage.
Protect the Sheffield Moors
We have already raised £50,000 to fund a dedicated Wildfire Ranger to protect the Sheffield Moors area from wildfire this season. Please now help the BMC Access & Conservation Trust raise a further £50,000 to support the team with equipment and restore the moorland for future generations.
£10 funds a roll of 20 sphagnum moss plugs
£25 fully restores 1m2 of moorland
£50 stabilises bare peat with cut heather
£100 funds ten educational social media posts
£200 builds a 2m dam to rewet an eroded gully
£2,000 hires one wildfire-prevention road sign
£10,000 buys a wildfire-detection drone
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