We are a team of serving and new veteran soldiers, cross party MPs and sponsors who will be attempting to climb on one of the world's highest active volcanoes, Cotopaxi in Ecuador at 19,347ft (5897m).

This tough challenge is taking place from 26th May- 10th June to raise awareness of The Royal British Battle Back Centre and to raise much needed funds to assist its fantastic work.

The Battle Back Centre based in Lilleshall, Shropshire is an adaptive sport and adventurous training facility for wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces personnel to help overcome physical and psychological challenges, promote self-confidence and improve motivation to aid recovery. For more information about the Centre and its work click on this link http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help/military-recovery/battle-back-centre-lilleshall

The Cotopaxi expedition – the first ever expedition from the Battle Back Centre - will provide a tough challenge, bringing the mixed team together to cope with high altitude, several equatorial summits, temperatures of -10C, days of acclimatisation and a gruelling final push for the summit of Cotopaxi starting at 1am.

Taking part in the expedition are a group of serving or new veteran soldiers who have recently benefited from The Battle Back Centre’s world-class facilities alongside three members of the All Party Parliamentary Mountaineering Group – MPs John Mann, Greg Mulholland and Tracey Crouch and two representatives from expedition sponsors, The Coventry Building Society. The team will be led by Leeds Metropolitan University Carnegie Great Outdoors, with Dave Bunting, who is himself ex army and previously led the British Army Everest West Ridge Expedition in 2006, acting as Expedition Leader assisted by two CGO mountain leaders.

 

As a team, we are aiming to raise £10,000 for the great work of the Battle Back Centre in assisting our brave servicemen and women who have been injured so please do support us and help us raise much needed funds for this very worthwhile cause!