Global expeditions, open-fire cooking, and the explorer channeling her resourcefulness into a local public library on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula.
To many, Laura is best known for her world-record expeditions. She has crossed the Atlantic under sail, cycled 7,000 kilometres across South America without money and led the world-first descent of Guyana’s Essequibo River. Her life on the trail has demanded immense endurance, quick resourcefulness, and a profound willingness to rely on the generosity of others: a quality that sits at the very heart of her connection to people. Today, with Costa Rica as her home, that same pioneering spirit is focused on a cause much closer to her daily life.
Beyond the School Day
Last year, Laura and a group of local organisers spearheaded a vibrant community effort, uniting 52 vendors to raise $20,000, generating an impressive $16,000 in net profit to fund a vital after-school program at Santa Teresa Public School. The true impact of that revenue lives in what it made possible on the ground, providing an engaging, creative extension of the classroom where local children could explore new skills, build confidence and learn beyond the traditional school day.
Building on that momentum, Laura and her fellow organisers are preparing for their next big push: a festive community gathering dedicated to funding a local public library.
Giving Curiosity a Home
A public library offers something wonderfully transformative: the freedom to pick up a book, get lost in its pages, and return for another. It gives a child’s imagination a place to roam; whether they are fascinated by ocean wildlife one week, space exploration the next or a favorite story they want to read again and again.
Proceeds from this year's fundraising appeal will directly fund the creation of the town's new public library, equipping the space with bilingual book collections and learning resources for children to discover what inspires them.
For Laura, asking for support for a local library feels like a natural continuation of her life's work. During her South American expedition, she depended on the kindness of strangers while raising funds for Operation South America. Now, she is using that same platform to build lasting educational infrastructure for the children in her home town.
Light & Wonder: December in Santa Teresa
The next fundraising event takes place on Saturday, December 12, 2026, with the return of the Light & Wonder Christmas Market. It promises to be a true highlight of the season with between 50 and 70 vendors who will showcase their craft alongside a lively food court. The market will also feature performances by student groups from local and international schools, bringing the community together through music, food and creative expression.
Pioneering Close to Home
Alongside being a world-class explorer, Laura is a neighbour passionately invested in the future of her community. Here on the Nicoya Peninsula, the next chapter is taking shape close to home, through after-school programs, a festive December market and the quiet magic of a future library.
Join Laura at the Light & Wonder Christmas Market
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 3pm till 9pm
Location: Behind the soccer field, Santa Teresa