Welcome and many thanks for visiting my fundraising page

At the ripe old age of 61 I have committed myself to what must be one of (if not the) biggest physical and mental challenge of my life.  Despite aspersions to the contrary I still have all my mental faculties, although when I think of what I'm going to attempt, I do begin to wonder!

Why Nepal and why CWS

Nepal is the least developed country in Asia, with years of conflict worsening the poverty.  It doesn't have any oil, very little infrastructure and isn't in Africa.  Consequently it is "off the radar" for most people, when it comes to knowledge and charitable giving.  However it is a country where properly directed charitable giving can make a real and sustainable difference.  CWS has a very small team in London with a much larger presence in Nepal mainly staffed by Nepalese.  This is very cost effective and efficient, and ensures a real understanding of the needs of the Nepalese people and organisations that they support.  The Charity's founder lives and works in Nepal as their Operations Director, ensuring that their work is successful, open and accountable. 

Out of every 100 children in Nepal:
• 42 live below the poverty line
• 48 will be malnourished
• 42 will be involved in child labour
• 39 will not complete primary education
• 7 will die before their 5th birthday

Visit the CWS website at www.cwsuk.org to see what a difference they are making.

The Trek

If successful I'll reach an altitude of 18,200ft (5545 metres) trekking for 6-9 hours a day up and down mountains which make the Saddleworth hills look like pimples.  At this altitude the air only has 50% of the oxygen which it has at sea level, giving rise to altitude problems.  The temperatures fall below freezing to lows of around    -10 centigrade.  There is no hot water and the toilets (if any) are extremely primitive.  Alcohol is banned because of the altitude.  What did I say about my mental faculties?

Donations/Sponsorship

The Donations/Sponsorship are for my attempt at the challenge, not necessarily my success, although obviously I shall do my utmost to be successful.

£10      gives medical help for a child living in a remote mountain community

£25      helps to prevent health problems and accidents associated with traditional stoves, by building an improved cooking stove for a family

£40      provides protection and safety for a girl at high risk of abuse, by paying for an emergency home for a month

£50      is enough to fund a meal for a street child every day for a year

£100    pays for a month's vocational training for a disadvantaged young person, giving them a new start in life

£250    pays the salary of a doctor for a whole month

£800    helps to reach out to those in need of health care, by covering the salary of an ambulance driver for a year

£1200  helps to educate street children and ex-trafficked girls by covering the salary of a teacher for a year

£1500  helps treat patients and save lives by buying enough medicines for the mobile clinic to last a whole year

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.  If you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.  I myself  am paying all of the travel and trek costs so that all donations go directly to CWS

Your donation will make a difference so please sponsor me now.

My thanks to my major sponsors who have already donated offline, these being : -

John Ainley & partners of North Ainley Halliwell, Solicitors, Oldham

Alan, Ian & Julie Appleton of Alan Appleton (Oldham) Limited stockinette manufacturers of Watersheddings Oldham

Barry Dickson & John Wilcock of Jackson Brierley Harthan, Uppermill

Phil Newton of Prolific Financial Services Warrington and

Phil Wiggett of Wiggett Construction, Oldham 

Also my thanks to all other offline donors too numerous to mention. Finally thank you to the online donors. The support of each and everyone of you is greatly appreciated.                                                            

 Mission Accomplished  

The CWS (Child Welfare Scheme) trekking team reached Everest Base Camp at approx 1.45pm (8am UK time) on Wednesday November 19th. Sadly Ruth Jacobs the wife of Chairman Michael Jacobs did not make it.  She had been suffering from the altitude for a couple of days.  Bravely she set off from Gorak Shep for the final leg but after 10 mins or so she had to accept that she wasn't up to it and had to turn back with porter help.  Only one member of the team has been illness free be it altitude related or sickness and diarrhoea.  Despite this everyone except Ruth made it.  Great credit for this must go to Julia the expedition Doctor who brilliantly and professionally dealt with all the illness and altitude related problems, and there were many.  Credit must also go to Steve Cooper the expedition leader without who's encouragement and persuasion at least two members of the team (me and Andrew Snell) would have given up when we were at our poorliest with the sickness etc.  The team are now back in the UK recovering from their exertions, and the assorted illnesses which they brought back with them.  In total, excluding expedition staff, there were 15 trekkers of whom 14 were trekking for CWS.  Currently the net amount after expenses raised by the 14 stands at over £64,800.

Therefore, it is indeed Mission Accomplished.

Thank you to each and every person involved, who has assisted me be it financial or otherwise, in the part that I have played in this incredibly successful venture.

Was it worth it YES

Would I do it again NO

It has been the toughest thing I have ever done and am ever likely to do, but at least it's kept me occupied for the past 6 months or so.  My own personal, self imposed fundraising target was £5,500 and I have now reached this.  However if any new visitors to this page, feel that I and the cause are worthy of support, further sponsorship/donations, will still be very gratefully received so that I can raise as much as possible for the charity.