30/03/2026
Natalie — we did it for you. 💔🦋
We took on the W Trek in Patagonia to raise money for the Chilterns Neuro Centre, supporting those facing the same difficulties that Natalie endured. To everyone who sponsored us: thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of you, we’ve raised over £28,000—the largest individual donation the charity has ever received. We hope this makes life just a little bit easier for those who need it most.
The journey to get there didn’t exactly start smoothly. British Airways lost our luggage, leading to a frantic dash for new gear in Santiago. Then, our flight to Punta Arenas was turned back due to wind. We spent nine hours on a plane just to end up back where we started (after already flying 14 hours from London!).
After a 4am flight the next morning, a 3-hour drive, and a ferry across the lake, we finally reached base camp—72 hours after leaving home.
The next 4 days were unforgettable. We trekked through wind, sunshine, rain, and snow. Summer and Lacey were absolutely incredible—not one complaint. Our guide, who has been doing this for 35 years, told us they were the youngest people he has ever guided on the W Trek (the previous record was 16!). Sharing those mountains with them is a memory I will cherish forever.
Then came the final climb: “The 3 Amigos.”
We were up at 4am, trekking in the dark and scrambling over boulders, until we finally turned the last corner. There they were—three towering peaks rising above a glacial lagoon.
I cried. We had made it.
It was 12 hours of trekking and 38,000 steps that day alone, but every second was worth it. It truly is a big, beautiful world out there. Go get it! 🙏❤️🌍
We have raised £28,396 so far. We’ve set up a new link for donations that will support this trip and a future one (TBC). If you would like to contribute, you can do so here: link in bio
🔗 https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-phillips-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
