A Scottish adventure company has surpassed £3 million raised for UK charities, using extreme Arctic and Kilimanjaro treks to inspire individuals and corporate teams to push beyond their limits for good causes.
Breaking Strain reached the milestone following its latest 65km Arctic trek in northern Finland, where a team from High Wycombe-based Cash Converters UK raised a much-needed and appreciated £252,000 for The Genie’s Wish, a charity supporting young people facing serious or terminal illness.
Founded in Scotland but operating across the UK and internationally, Breaking Strain specialises in delivering high-impact endurance challenges, from Arctic treks to climbing Kilimanjaro and bespoke corporate events. Its model combines physical challenge, mental resilience and expert safety management to create transformative fundraising experiences.
At the heart of the business is co-founder and managing director, Lee Peyton, whose background underpins the company’s credibility and safety-first approach. A former Physical Training Instructor in the British Armed Forces and a veteran of 15 years with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Lee also offers health and safety consultancy across major TV and film productions, including Amazon Studios, Netflix and the BBC.
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s most experienced cold-weather endurance specialists, Lee has competed in some of the world’s toughest environments, including the Yukon, Arctic Finland and the United States, as well as leading multiple treks inside the Arctic Circle.
The company’s flagship 65km Arctic trek sees participants spend three days deep within the Arctic Circle, pulling their own equipment in pulks, camping on snow and operating in extreme sub-zero conditions.
Lee Peyton said: “Surpassing £3 million raised for charity is a huge milestone for Breaking Strain, but it’s entirely down to the individuals and teams who are willing to step outside their comfort zones to support causes that matter deeply to them.
“Our role is to create an environment that is both challenging and safe, where people can achieve far more than they thought possible. My background in the fire service, military and now health and safety in high-risk production environments means we bring a level of expertise and risk management that is absolutely critical in these conditions.
“Our participants state that the Arctic treks are transformational. They strip everything back and show people what they’re truly capable of and when that’s combined with fundraising, the impact is incredibly powerful.”
Breaking Strain has supported fundraising efforts for a wide range of UK charities, including Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, The Joshua Tree and When You Wish Upon a Star.
Judith King, Scotland Fundraiser at When You Wish Upon A Star, said: “When You Wish Upon a Star has worked directly with Breaking Strain since 2017, and as we enter our tenth year of partnership, more than 85 supporters have taken on a challenge through their events, raising more than £250,000 to help grant wishes.
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“The impact of the fundraising expeditions created by Breaking Strain cannot be overstated. They change lives for the better, supporting confidence building and both physical and mental wellbeing.
“What sets them apart is their ability to allow fundraisers to focus on what matters most, supporter journeys, engagement, and fundraising, while they take care of the operational delivery. They are hugely experienced, flexible, easy to work with, and consistently go above and beyond for every supporter and charity they partner with.”
With charities desperate for more fundings and demand growing from corporate organisations seeking purpose-led experiences that deliver both team development and social impact, the company is continuing to expand its programme of UK and international challenges.
