After a 3:30am wake‑up and two flights north, we touched down in Kiruna, Sweden, just as the sun was setting at 2:30pm. Within a few hours we were harnessing huskies in the dark and heading out into the wilderness. Thrilled, excited and slightly terrified, we were all so focused on not crashing into the sled in front of us that we almost didn’t notice the Northern Lights, green and orange across the sky. It was a completely out‑of‑body experience ­and two bucket‑list goals achieved, all before dinner on our first day.

We arrived at the cabin after an hour and a half on the sleds: no electricity, no running water, one outdoor long‑drop toilet and many, MANY candles. After a hearty reindeer stew (and a delicious vegetarian option for Jade), we collapsed into bed.

The next day we were up at 7:30am for breakfast before our first challenge; orienteering. At one point, Mia was fairly convinced she had led the entire group astray while wading through knee-deep snow, but the checkpoint emerged exactly where it should.

Next came our attempt at ice fishing (alas, quite futile), followed by another bout of slightly more confident dog sledding. As darkness settled again, we trudged through snow armed with only a box of matches and our wits, to build a fire. This brought out an incredibly competitive streak in both Mia and Katie – and despite much effort, we couldn’t quite get it going. 

We ended the day with a sauna / snow‑roll / sauna – painful yet exhilarating!

Day three saw us trekking back to civilisation, through forests and across a vast frozen lake at -17°C. It was bitterly cold, breathtakingly beautiful, and one of the most surreal walks of our lives.

Arriving at the lodge felt euphoric, and after a much-needed shower and a Swedish quiz, we visited the Ice Hotel. Inside, it was a positively balmy -7°C, complete with cocktails served in ice glasses, incredibly detailed sculptures, and a slide. We decided that every bar should have a slide.

The final morning was the coldest of the trip at -21°C (not for the faint‑hearted).

This experience was wild, exhausting, humbling and completely unforgettable. Hearing how the National Literacy Trust supports people across the UK made the challenge feel even more meaningful. In England, 18% of adults aged 16-65 (around 6.6 million people) are functionally illiterate; this affects every aspect of a person’s life. We’re incredibly proud that our group raised just over £42,000, and we’re so grateful to everyone who donated and supported us.

It truly was an adventure of a lifetime, for a truly important cause.

Please visit the Just Giving page if you would like to show your support.