‘Outlander’ Fans Band Together for Charity

Outlander Fans Band Together for Charity

Ask Outlander fan Bonnie Terbush what prompted the creation of a Facebook group to raise funds for charities supported by Outlander stars and she’ll tell you it was the result of Sam Heughan’s My Peak Challenge campaign. ThePeakPosse Facebook group was launched so fans of Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books and the Starz series it inspired would have an easily accessible outlet for sharing “common goals, health, fitness, motivation and encouragement,” said Terbush. The idea to raise funds in support of Heughan’s chosen charity was a natural extension of the group’s desire to support Outlander, Heughan, and the non-profit organization Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (a UK charity).

“The Group was formed in January of 2015 in response to a challenge set forth by actor Sam Heughan who portrays Jamie Fraser in the Outlander series. Sam is a fitness junkie. He challenged all of his fans to reach their ‘peak’, whatever that may be, and to get healthy by eating better and exercising. The challenge, entitled MyPeakChallenge, served a dual purpose; to get healthy and to raise funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (LLR), Sam’s supported charity,” explained Terbush. “During the course of the challenge, ThePeakPosse decided to raise funds for LLR by raffling an Outlander-inspired Gift Basket.”

Outlander fans, including the 400 members of ThePeakPosse Facebook group, got behind the raffle and ultimately raised an impressive $25,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. The gift basket contained more than 60 items including autographs from cast members, and the success of its auction led to the decision to continue with the fundraising efforts. ThePeakPosse came up with the idea to continue to support the actors of Outlander and their charities, as Terbush says, “one charity at a time.”

Following on the heels of a raffle in support of Heughan’s chosen charity, the group turned to Heughan’s co-star Caitriona Balfe (“Claire Fraser”). Balfe is a supporter of World Child Cancer’s efforts to, per the organization’s mission statement, “improve cancer diagnosis, treatment and care for children across the developing world.” A new gift basket was put together that currently consists of more than 75+ donated items including autographs and trips. This second Gift Basket raffle to raise funds for World Child Cancer kicked off on April 1, 2015 and will end on May 31, 2015 at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Donations are being accepted at JustGiving.org/cmbthepeakposse/. ThePeakPosse member Heather Lee Ying’s employer Macquarie is generously matching all donations in order to raise more funds for World Child Cancer. (The matching donations will be made only when a donation includes this message: “In support of the fund raising efforts, ThePeakPosse/Heather L.Y.”) Donors will be able to enter the Gift Basket raffle for a chance to win Outlander-related items as well as other donated goodies.

For more information on the raffle or to discover #WhatsInTheBasket, follow @BonnieTerbush and @ThePeakPosse on Twitter or visit ThePeakPosse’s Charity Fundraiser page.


-By Rebecca Murray

Follow Us On: