LOST 2024: My adventure for the Samaritans

Imagine boarding a blacked-out coach early in the morning, departing campus, and setting off to a destination unknown. You’re joined by a friend and two strangers, soon to become your teammates, bound together by a single challenge – find your way back to the University of Warwick campus from an undisclosed city up to 200 miles away. The catch? You have no money and only 24 hours to make it back.

This year, 182 students – the largest group on record – voluntarily signed up for Lost, one of Warwick RAG (Raising and Giving) society’s most popular annual events, which has been running for over 20 years.

Since 1964, the Coventry Samaritans have been a lifeline in the local community.

Beyond the thrill of the challenge, we had a meaningful purpose driving us forward: raising awareness and funds for Coventry Samaritans. The Samaritans’ mis- sion is to provide a compassionate, non-judgmental presence for those facing mental health issues, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts. Their 24/7 helpline, email support, and other resources offer a confidential and non-judgemental space where people can find a listening ear. Since 1964, the Coventry Samaritans have been a lifeline in the local community. With a team of 90 dedicated volunteers, the branch was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015, the highest award that can be given to a local volunteer group in the UK.

Upon arrival, we were informed that our mystery location was Cardiff, Wales, a place I had never been before. We were briefed and handed a list of 37 challenges, each one worth a certain number of points. Challenges ranged from light-hearted, like hugging a member of the RAG exec, to daring, like getting a permanent tattoo.

I soon bonded with my new teammates, Connor and Ollie, who were randomly paired with myself and friend Daniel. Connor was a Challenge Officer at RAG, who came dressed in an inflatable cow costume, an outfit that would prove surprisingly useful throughout the day.

Our team started looking for challenges immediately. Starting off easy, we hugged a RAG exec member and took pictures of a stranger wearing our Samaritans hat. With our initial challenges completed, we wanted to go bigger. Swimming in Cardiff Bay provided a greater challenge, and as a member of Warwick Swimming and Water Polo Club, I was the key target. We stumbled across Seren Dwr, a paddle sports club based in Cardiff’s international white-water centre. Expecting rejection, as this was a paid-only experience, we explained our mission and hoped. To our surprise, they loved the idea.

A staff member named Gareth kindly gave me a towel and a wet-suit, protecting me from hypothermia. As luck would have it, Gareth was bald, allowing us to tick off another challenge, taking a selfie with a bald man. After changing, I plunged into the cold Cardiff Bay. Once refreshed, I was kindly given access to the centre’s changing rooms and warm showers. It was full of Welsh lads singing to Rihanna – quite the experience I must say.

Motivated by our positive encounter, we headed to Morrisons to complete another challenge. Our supermarket conga line came as a delight to the staff, who even joined in. The charm of Connor’s cow costume scored us free food in Morrisons Cafe, which ticked off another challenge. We soon realised we needed to leave the area we were in, as other LOST teams were swiftly moving away from the drop-off point.

With a mix of blind confidence, persuasion, and cow costume charm – [we] managed to score four free tickets to Cardiff City vs Norwich City.

Another challenge was to get a free boat ride around Cardiff Bay. After a few rejections, we found a kind couple who were willing to help, having just given another LOST team a ride. Cardiff was alive with Warwick students doing silly challenges for charity and accidental overlap with other teams became a theme throughout the day. We wandered around the bay, ticking off more challenges: taking a picture with a Welsh flag, a selfie with a bossman from a corner shop, and another with a local busker, the lo- cal celebrity of the day.

Hitting our stride, we wanted to take it up a notch. Managing to grab a free taxi ride to the Cardiff City Stadium, we set our sights on getting into the match for free. We walked into the ticket office and – with a mix of blind confidence, persuasion, and cow costume charm – managed to score four free tickets to Cardiff City vs Norwich City. What a game it was, Cardiff scoring two goals in the 89th and 93rd minute to win the game 2-1. The script couldn’t have been written any better.

Now 6pm and dark, we didn’t fancy being stranded in Cardiff overnight. Upon hearing that there were coaches leaving Cardiff for Bristol very shortly, we ran to the coach station and a kind driver let us on. We were cutting it fine, the last train out of Bristol was at 8pm and we were scheduled to arrive at Bristol bus station at 7:45pm, stacked up against a 25-minute walk. To make matters worse, we didn’t even have a train ticket.

We ran across hilly Bristol city centre to Temple Meads Railway station, in the hopes of catching a free train. The first ticket desk declined immediately. Desperate not to be stranded overnight, we hurried to the other desk. We knew it was our last chance. Pleading our case, the cow costume worked its magic again. A kind ticket clerk gave us four free train tickets towards Coventry, a true miracle.

After just making our train and changing at Oxford, we found ourselves in familiar Leamington Spa. Landing a final free bus ride to campus from Parade, we arrived back at 11:15pm, greeted by the RAG team. We finished LOST in exactly 12 hours, having completed a wide range of challenges. Reflecting on the day, our team walked away with a massive confidence boost. We realised that stepping out of your comfort zone can be hugely beneficial. Having spoken to hundreds of strangers over the course of the day, we learned to brush off each rejection and keep trying. LOST also served as a reminder of how generous strangers can be. It was amazing to experience how willing strangers were to help out – whether giving us a free ride, sharing a laugh, or cheering us on.

LOST helps build the confidence to walk into the unknown and tackle whatever one may find through their own social skills

– William Passfield, Co-Coordinator of LOST

Reflecting on LOST, William Passfield, the Co-Coordinator of LOST 2024, shared his thoughts: “Warwick RAG’s LOST is an invaluable experience because it provides an opportunity to experiment with one’s charismatic potential. It provides participants the opportunity to see: What if I just tried? By experimenting with their confidence, charisma, and courage it leads participants to explore their social capacity. LOST helps build the confidence to walk into the unknown and tackle whatever one may find through their own social skills. LOST is an essential rite of passage for any Warwick University student and has been central to defining university memory for generations of students. Having heard the experiences of nearly every LOST 2024 participant, I am honoured to have helped facilitate their unforgettable adventures. I would like to personally thank everyone who took part for in their immense record-breaking fund-raising efforts – your hard work will help save lives.”

It was an unforgettable experience, and knowing it contributed to Samaritan’s mission made every moment more worthwhile. In total, Warwick RAG’s LOST event fundraised an amazing £18,727 for Coventry Samaritans. If you would like to get more involved with Samaritans, there are many ways to, such as volunteer- ing, which you can find out about by checking their website: www.samaritans.org.

If this year’s event is anything to go by, I’d urge anyone reading this to sign up next year to be part of something truly special.

Step out of your comfort zone. You will be surprised how far it takes you.