“On 10 August 2024, we took part in the Edinburgh 7 Summit Challenge event, where we spent a whole day climbing the 7 hills of Edinburgh, and raised £1465 for the Migrants’ Rights Network. It was a fabulous day, and we met some lovely people. As we both love to walk long distances, and catch up with each other, it felt like a great challenge.
We have both had international careers, which means we have both experienced leaving and arriving in new countries. We’ve had to learn to adjust to new places. But we know we can’t relate to people who live at the sharpest end of migration. They have to navigate the struggles of starting a new life in a new place, with so many other systems of oppression too. Siobhan and I have always been welcomed in new countries, with the privilege of being called “expats”. And we know the same can’t be said for migrants who often face violence and hostility.
Our choice to fundraise for the Migrants’ Rights Network was really easy. We saw it was a values led organisation that campaigns for rights and justice for all migrants, and were pleased that so many of their team members have lived experience of migration, which we think makes them more effective in their campaigning work. We also really appreciated their collaborative ethos, the partnerships they build with migrant justice and other social justice organisations, and their unique combination of being both strategic and yet very adaptable.
We all know that charities can sometimes be part of the problem. But it seems to us that the Migrants’ Rights Network understands what it means to be introspective, and what it means to constantly reflect and strive for better.
We were glad to support the Migrants’ Rights Network, as it’s clear they’re leading the way in shaping what we think the world should look like: a world where no-one is oppressed, and where no one is subjected to violence because of their immigration status or migration journey. The choice to fundraise for MRN was a no-brainer, and we would love to think our example can encourage others to support MRN in any way that they can”.
-Penny and Siobhan raised £1465 for MRN by undertaking the the Edinburgh 7 Summit Challenge.
If you also fancy doing something physically challenging to raise money for a good cause, we have spots for a 10k Brighton Run and a swim in Hyde Park! For more info click here.
If you want to fundraise for us, but don’t want to do a physical challenge, then we’ve got you covered! For more info on the different things you can do, from cooking to making art, click here.