Why I Took on the 5 Peaks Challenge for UNICEF Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a country I’ve visited, experienced, and been deeply moved by—but it’s also a place that stays with you long after you’ve left. So when I heard about UNICEF’s Afghanistan Emergency Appeal, I knew I couldn’t just scroll past. The idea was simple: raise money by taking on the 5 Peaks Challenge in the UK. But the cause was anything but simple.

Millions of children across Afghanistan face hunger, illness, and displacement on a scale that’s hard to comprehend. I’ve seen it firsthand—kids with no shoes in sub-zero temperatures, entire families living in tents, hospitals running without medicine. And yet, there’s an odd normality to it over there, because hardship is just the default.

That’s what made the challenge worth it. Five peaks. One day and thankfully some decent weather! Every pound raised meant emergency kits, food packs, vaccines, and clean water could reach families living in some of the harshest, most remote areas on earth. Organisations like the DEC are also actively supporting these efforts.

Through Simpson Developments and some generous supporters, we raised over £2,500 for UNICEF’s emergency operations in Afghanistan. And unlike most feel-good fundraisers, this one felt grounded in something real. I’d seen the need. I knew what that money could do.

The contrast hit hard when I finished the challenge and returned to normal life—hot shower, warm bed, fridge full of food. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, winter was closing in fast, and thousands of kids were wondering if they’d survive it.