Manchester professionals take on 100km Jordan trek to support Girls Out Loud

Manchester, November 2025 — A team of 18 professionals from across the Manchester business community have embarked on a five-day trek through Jordan to raise money for Girls Out Loud, a charity that helps teenage girls to be bold, brave, and believe in their potential.

Some of those taking part include Clare Roberts, CEO of award-winning nursery group Kids Planet, Adrian Harris, Chief Supply Chain Officer at performance sportswear brand Castore and Liam Buckley, Director at Manchester-based strategic marketing communications agency MC2.

Covering around 100km of desert, gorges, and mountain ridges, the challenge which began on 1 November will see the group finish in the ancient city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. So far, the team have collectively raised more than £47,000, with donations continuing to come in as the team take on temperatures of up to 30°C by day and near-freezing conditions at night.

Funds raised will go directly towards Girls Out Loud’s mentoring and empowerment programmes in schools across the UK, which aim to inspire and equip young girls to reach their full potential.

Clare Roberts OBE, CEO of Kids Planet and one of the participants, said: Taking on this 100km trek with fellow Manchester professionals is about championing the skills that help girls thrive. As a woman in leadership, I know I’m in a privileged position and I want to see more young women step up to the challenge and back themselves. At Kids Planet we have always focused on children, and as my own children grow, I’m seeing more clearly the gap exists for teenagers. Girls Out Loud helps close that gap through mentoring, confidence and real  role models. Every kilometre towards Petra is a reminder of why we’re here, and every donation helps put another mentor in a school.”

Other participants taking part in the trek include:

• Charlotte Ashton, Founder, Implicit Advisory
  • Laura Cartwright, Manager, Private Capital Team, Alvarez & Marsal
  • Katy Clough, Chief People Officer, Dechra Pharmaceuticals
  • Melanie Guest, Sales Manager, Tektura
  • Dr Sally Harris, GP, HCA Medical (Advising Doctor to the League Managers
  Association)
  • Carolyn MacNab, Chief People Officer, City Football Group
  • Victoria Price, Founder, Emello and Senior Adviser, Alvarez & Marsal
  • Helen Spence, International M&A Director, EY
  • Simon Thorn, Fractional CFO
  • Tiffany Thorn, Founder and CEO, BiVictriX Therapeutics
  • Leyla Tindall, Managing Director, ZRG Partners
  • Rob Websdale, Executive Director, Julius Baer
  • Jason McCaldin
  • Sarah McCaldin
  • Andy MacNab

To support the team and make a donation to Girls Out Loud visit https://girlsoutloudtrektopetra.enthuse.com/forevermanchester/profile