My 2020/21 charity fundraising challenges!

September 2020 - I celebrated my 50th birthday by raising money for STOP trafficking of people by hiking, biking & kayaking 50km. The weather was absolutely terrible, it went from being very sunny and then with sudden squalls that made the route exceptionally dangerous. With this in mind, we had to adapt the original route for safety reasons. All had gone pretty well for the first 15km where we covered Chi Ma Wan which is a pretty technical route, especially in the wet weather.

Then disaster struck when I lost control of my bike and skidded off the route and down a cliff, hitting a tree bloody hard. I thought I had broken my neck, I couldn't speak. I managed to climb out and then drag my bike out. I was pretty dazed however rode and caught up with my colleagues who were pretty worried as my face was bleeding badly and my shoulder clicking. We decided to continue and I eventually finished the challenge which ended up being a total of 58km. After a quick beer, I then headed to the hospital where they confirmed what I had suspected, a broken collar bone. My chin also needed 8 stitches. The hospital did a wonderful job in sticking me back together again and only a few hours later I was out all fixed up!!

We raised a fantastic 30,000$HK which was amazing and we thank all those who supported us. This money went directly to helping victims who had been trafficked to help them survive their terrible ordeals and support them get back on to their feet!!

See here for the full story

STOP just released their 2020 annual report and I am added in this! - STOP annual report

"Jo Lodder celebrated his 50th birthday by completing 58km in biking and hiking. Despite requiring eight stitches and having a broken collar bone, Jo raised a total of $30,000 for STOP."

So what's next for me in 2021?

25th - 28th March I plan on completing with my friend and neighbour Catherine Cormack (seen above with me at the top of Lantau Peak) my biggest challenge to date, all the trails in Hong Kong which totals a distance of 298km with an incredible 18,684m elevation which is the equivalent of climbing the height of Everest (8,848m) in Asia, Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Africa and The Eiger (3,967m) in Europe - all at once!!

Hike for Freedom to STOP human & animal ABUSE!

Donations here: https://give.asia/campaign/hike-for-freedom#/

See the trails below:

• Maclehose Trail - 100km distance / 6,189 m elevation - The New Territories, through which the MacLehose Trail runs, covers the majority of Hong Kong's land area. The east coast, where the trail begins, is deeply indented and wild. The central mountains, which the MacLehose Trail crosses, include many of Hong Kong's highest peaks. The western part, where the trail winds to its end, features numerous valley reservoirs.
• Wilson Trail - 78km distance / 5,407 m elevation - The trail is aligned north-south and runs from Stanley, in the south of Hong Kong Island to Nam Chung, in the northeastern New Territories. Of the four long-distance trails, the Wilson Trail is the newest. Since the trail crossesVictoria Harbour, it makes use of the MTR.
• Hong Kong Trail - 50km distance / 3,031 m elevation - from Victoria Peak to Big Wave Bay and passes through the five country parks on Hong Kong island.
• Lantau Trail - 70km distance / 4,057 m elevation - this is a loop starting and finishing in Mui Wo covering the beautiful island of Lantau.

The Charities we will support:

STOP trafficking of people - https://stophk.org/

Stop Trafficking of People (STOP) that works in partnership with the local community to end human trafficking in and through Hong Kong.

Their goals are to raise awareness about trafficking, connect with key counter-trafficking groups, provide victims with support, allow their voices to be heard, and to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the fight against modern-day slavery. 

TAILS LANTAU - https://www.tailslantau.org/

Team for Animals in Lantau South (TAILS) is run as a non-profit society that depends on the dedication and passion of volunteers and the kindness and generosity of donors and sponsors to continue working toward a world in which animal welfare is the norm, not the exception. 

My name is Jo Lodder and I am Managing Partner of JNW Properties in Hong Kong. We market and sell our own developments in Niseko which include SnowDog Village, SnowDog Chalets and the famous Raku Ichi Residences. I have a passion for exploring, and especially like to hike the mountains of Niseko in the summer, where I also love to ski in the winter, famed for its fluffy champagne snow. White days in February, so cold, but that amazing powder that's JAPOW!!

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