Let's find out how the couple got on, on their trip of a lifetime!
At the end of last year, we ran a competition especially for the people our customers think are special. You voted for five fantastic individuals, putting them forward for a fantastic trip to Iceland. Hundreds of entries and some heart-warming stories later, it was Lesley and Roger Dann (founders of a charity for Kenyan street children) who scooped the prize (along with some Damart thermals to keep them toasty on the glaciers) and were jetted off to Iceland.
Roger and Lesley set up their charity 'Harambee for Kenya' in 2007, after years of working with Kenyans to take young boys off the streets. Forming close bonds with destitute children and working to provide them with places to stay and food to eat, the husband and wife team work hard to ensure the best quality of living for these unfortunate boys. We caught up with Lesley and Roger once the couple were back from their trip with all the key questions: did they enjoy themselves, what did they see, and - most importantly - did their Damart thermals keep them warm?
At the end of last year, we ran a competition especially for the people our customers think are special. You voted for five fantastic individuals, putting them forward for a fantastic trip to Iceland. Hundreds of entries and some heart-warming stories later, it was Lesley and Roger Dann (founders of a charity for Kenyan street children) who scooped the prize (along with some Damart thermals to keep them toasty on the glaciers) and were jetted off to Iceland.
Roger and Lesley set up their charity 'Harambee for Kenya' in 2007, after years of working with Kenyans to take young boys off the streets. Forming close bonds with destitute children and working to provide them with places to stay and food to eat, the husband and wife team work hard to ensure the best quality of living for these unfortunate boys. We caught up with Lesley and Roger once the couple were back from their trip with all the key questions: did they enjoy themselves, what did they see, and - most importantly - did their Damart thermals keep them warm?
How did you feel about winning?
"It did feel a bit strange," Lesley says, "Because we would rarely do anything like this without the boys. But we were very excited at the thought of seeing the Northern Lights. We're very humbled by the prize, really." "We were surprised, to say the least." Roger adds. "Pleasantly surprised, though. It took a while for us to get used to the idea."
Did you get to see the Northern Lights?
"Yes, we did." Roger says. "After three nights, we did see them." "They were spectacular." Lesley says. "It was unbelievable to see them keep popping up, they were so beautiful. It's wonderful to have seen them." What was the best moment on your trip? "On the second day," says Lesley, "We walked on the glaciers and behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It was beautiful - the weather was fantastic, everything was so bright and cheery." The tour on their second day ended in Vik i Myrdal, a village surrounded by beautiful cliffs. After a day of seeing gorgeous glaciers, waterfalls and some stunning black lava sand coast lines (Lesley with her camera in tow), the couple were able to share with us some gorgeous photos.
"It did feel a bit strange," Lesley says, "Because we would rarely do anything like this without the boys. But we were very excited at the thought of seeing the Northern Lights. We're very humbled by the prize, really." "We were surprised, to say the least." Roger adds. "Pleasantly surprised, though. It took a while for us to get used to the idea."
Did you get to see the Northern Lights?
"Yes, we did." Roger says. "After three nights, we did see them." "They were spectacular." Lesley says. "It was unbelievable to see them keep popping up, they were so beautiful. It's wonderful to have seen them." What was the best moment on your trip? "On the second day," says Lesley, "We walked on the glaciers and behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It was beautiful - the weather was fantastic, everything was so bright and cheery." The tour on their second day ended in Vik i Myrdal, a village surrounded by beautiful cliffs. After a day of seeing gorgeous glaciers, waterfalls and some stunning black lava sand coast lines (Lesley with her camera in tow), the couple were able to share with us some gorgeous photos.
How different is Iceland to the parts of Kenya which you have seen?
"It's a vast difference," the couple tell us. "The cleanliness in Iceland is phenomenal. They're really lovely people and clearly take great pride in looking after their country. "In Kenya, there's very much a 'make do and mend' attitude to things. "The boys our charity works with wouldn't like the cold in Iceland - we have a fridge in the house in Kenya for them to use, but they simply don't like it. Ice lollies are too cold for them!" Did our thermals keep you warm? "Definitely," the couple agree. "It was great to have thin layers on in such low temperatures and yet still stay warm." Lesley and Roger tell us they donned five layers during the night, and a thermal vest with shirt and thin jumper under their coats during the day. Since temperatures in that part of Iceland can drop to -10°°C, we're very pleased to hear our thermals did the job!
So what's next for Harmabee for Kenya?
"After all the coverage we've received on the back of winning this competition," Roger says, "We've got a new incentive to push forward now we know that people do recognise what we are doing. It's been fantastic for the charity." Even though they've not been back from their trip long, it's all go for this couple; Lesley tells us her next trip to Kenya is planned in April, when she's going to be meeting the governor, the head of police, and start looking into the building of a drop-in centre for impoverished Kenyan boys.You can read more about Lesley and Roger's charity, Harambee for Kenya, here and find out why they stayed so warm with our thermal clothing range.
"It's a vast difference," the couple tell us. "The cleanliness in Iceland is phenomenal. They're really lovely people and clearly take great pride in looking after their country. "In Kenya, there's very much a 'make do and mend' attitude to things. "The boys our charity works with wouldn't like the cold in Iceland - we have a fridge in the house in Kenya for them to use, but they simply don't like it. Ice lollies are too cold for them!" Did our thermals keep you warm? "Definitely," the couple agree. "It was great to have thin layers on in such low temperatures and yet still stay warm." Lesley and Roger tell us they donned five layers during the night, and a thermal vest with shirt and thin jumper under their coats during the day. Since temperatures in that part of Iceland can drop to -10°°C, we're very pleased to hear our thermals did the job!
So what's next for Harmabee for Kenya?
"After all the coverage we've received on the back of winning this competition," Roger says, "We've got a new incentive to push forward now we know that people do recognise what we are doing. It's been fantastic for the charity." Even though they've not been back from their trip long, it's all go for this couple; Lesley tells us her next trip to Kenya is planned in April, when she's going to be meeting the governor, the head of police, and start looking into the building of a drop-in centre for impoverished Kenyan boys.You can read more about Lesley and Roger's charity, Harambee for Kenya, here and find out why they stayed so warm with our thermal clothing range.
