Young Farmers have raised an incredible £50,000 for charity on their way to this year’s Annual Convention – with more still to come.

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Members have made their way to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool in all sorts of ways, including by foot, bicycle and even vintage tractors! And all to raise serious dosh for fantastic causes.

Charity Challenges are a traditional way for Young Farmers to raise money for their favourite charities by travelling to Annual Convention in unusual ways.

Twenty-seven cyclists from Pembrokeshire FYFC cycled 250 miles, raising nearly £15,000 for Prostate Cymru, Wales Air Ambulance and their federation.

Pembrokeshire FYFC Chairman Non Thorne said: “We’ve had a really tough four days – we’ve raised over 250 miles and, because we’ve come from Pembrokeshire, we’ve climbed nearly 15,000 feet, which is four times the size of Ben Nevis!”

In Cornwall, their annual Chairman’s Challenge saw 40 members walk for 100 miles across the country around Hadrian’s Wall. Chairman Ed Harris said: “Every year we do a Chairman’s Challenge in the week leading up to convention. We thought it would be a really iconic challenge to do this including the route along Hadrian’s Wall.”

And Essex FYFC raised more than £10,743 for the Mary Barron Suite at Chelmsford Hospital by cycling 300 miles in four days.

Sara Skinner said: “We have seen some amazing views through the Peak District but I think the highlight was seeing Blackpool Tower!”

The achievements of each of these charity challenges has been extraordinary but it is the stories behind the charities that have been so inspiring.

Eccleshall’s Tour for Dan was all about trying to improve the life of their beloved club mate Dan Moseley who was seriously injured in a trampoline accident. The team wanted to raise £5,000 for a new wheelchair – they’ve already smashed that target by raising £6,000, and the money is still coming in.

“Dan gave us a call on our overnight stay and for me that was the highlight of the whole trip,” said Emily Cartmail, who organised the ride. “Everyone was in high spirits for the whole ride, but that really spurred us on.”

And in Leicestershire, Norton and Gaulby Young Farmers raised nearly £10,000 for Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance in honour of member Charlotte Stanbridge’s brother Sam who died in an accident 11 years ago.

The club cycled the 177 miles from their club to Blackpool in three days. “It was a long journey,” said Charlotte. “We learned that Staffordshire is very hilly! We did 77 miles on the first day and then 50 and 50. The first day was tough but it’s been alright since then.”

Shropshire club Shawbury YFC raised more than £3,000 for the MS Society riding on five vintage tractors to the seaside town. Despite a few breakdowns, the five tractors rolled into town on Friday morning. Shawbury YFC's Chairman said: "It has been brilliant. We thought we would really miss travelling on the bus with everyone but it has been better doing this. It's great raising money for charity, it's what Young Farmers is all about." 

But that’s not all – a small percentage of every ticket sold has also gone to charity, raising £3,250 for the North West Air Ambulance.