When we established Altura, one of our key ambitions was to use the business to help provide opportunities for young people.
Over the last few years, we have mentored a number of fantastic youngsters, through their exams, university, and into working life, and encouraged them to achieve success in financial services roles.
One of our mentees, Rithik Bagga, recently told us about his plans to complete a more than 80-kilometre trek across Jordan later this year to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Read on to find out more about Rithik and his bold plans.
Altura is committed to supporting young people
We first met Rithik in 2018 through Circl, the social enterprise. Since then, Rob – founder and director of Altura – has acted as a mentor, as Rithik achieved fantastic A-level results and a place at Grey College, Durham University, reading economics.
Mentoring young people and helping them gain exposure to, and contacts in, financial services is just one way we support the next generation. We’re particularly keen to support young people from under-represented groups and to help them succeed regardless of their backgrounds.
Indeed, our work on diversity and inclusion has recently been recognised, as we are on the shortlist for the “Diversity and Inclusion Broker Champion” award at the Mortgage Strategy Awards.
As well as providing support to Rithik, we were also really happy to make a substantial donation to his forthcoming charity challenge – a trek across Jordan to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Support Rithik as he prepares for a gruelling 80km trek this September
Having experienced dementia at close quarters, when a family friend’s grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, Rithik wanted to raise funds by doing something “that pushes me out of my comfort zone”.
“I wanted to do something that was a physical challenge, and that would push me beyond perhaps a running event or mountain climb in the UK. Additionally, I wanted to expose myself to a completely new culture. So, I decided to head to Jordan – a country I have never visited – and sign up for a gruelling week-long trek from Dana to Petra.”
The trek will cover more than 80 kilometres in searing heat, across the desert before winding through the mountains and legendary red canyons of Jordan’s Rift Valley. The journey ends at the Red Rose City of the Nabateans, in Petra itself, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Taking a week to conclude, Rithik has already started training and changed his diet to prepare for what will be a serious physical challenge when he sets off in September 2023.
The 22-year-old second year Durham student hopes to raise more than £1,700 for Alzheimer’s Research UK – and we’re thrilled to have propelled him a good way towards his target.
“Having visited the Alzheimer’s research labs in Newcastle and seeing the amazing work the team do first-hand, I really wanted to undertake a challenge and raise funds to support this groundbreaking science,” Rithik says.
If you’d like to donate to this fantastic cause, and join us in supporting Rithik in his challenge, head to Rithik’s JustGiving page to find out more.
Get in touch
Email [email protected] or call us on +44 (0) 20 3411 0079.
