Dad set to scale new heights for charity

A WARRINGTON dad is set to scale new heights as part of an intrepid group of trekkers aiming to raise funds for local childrens’ charity the Adventure Farm Trust.
On October 4 Christian Le Louet will join a group of brave supporters of the charity to travel to the Himalayas to trek to Everest Base Camp to raise vital funds for terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children from all over the North West.
So far the charity has recruited 23 trekkers to take part in this challenge and have been forced to set a limit of 25, they expect the last two places to go pretty soon. Average group size for this trek usually peaks at around 10/15 trekkers making this one of the largest treks to this remote Himalyan outpost, hopefully raising almost £40,000 for the charity.
Christian, (pictured right) a 37-year-old father of one from Lymm said: “Having recently had my first child, Evie, I have reflected on my life and how other people are not so lucky. By no means are we rich but we have a very comfortable life and myself and wife have been blessed with a wonderful daughter. I decided to try to help children who have not been so lucky. CAFT is a local charity and I was really impressed with all the staff I have met and was inspired to help. I did my first project last April, the Cheshire challenge a 40 miles walk across Cheshire which we completed in about 13 hrs. CAFT then approached me re Everest base Camp.”
“I am very lucky to work for my current employer, Evolution Recruitment Solutions, who have fully backed me in terms of allowing me to take nearly a month off work, doubling any money I raise for charity and giving me an extra days Holiday to aid with training. I am hitting the gym hard in order to lose weight and get fit, along with Paul Walsh my personal trainer I aim to be a lean mean machine to make the trip of a life time”
The group will trek to a height of 5,545m over 13 days, dealing with extreme cold, basic living conditions and altitude. They will climb to a height equivalent to four times that of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis. This is the most extreme challenge the charity has taken on to date and they are now looking for brave souls to join them.
Jenny O’Hare and Helen Crowther from the Adventure Farm have also committed to the challenge and are calling for supporters old and new to join them in this challenge of a lifetime. In the past they have tackled treks along the Great Wall of China, through the Grand Canyon, Sahara Desert and through the rainforest of Costa Rica. Between them they have clocked up 5,484 miles since the charity’s first fundraising trek in 2008 – and they are not alone – a further eight of the recruited trekkers have completed a CAFT overseas trek in the past. Over the last six years 133 of their supporters have donned their walking boots for overseas trekking events, raising over £130,000 for local terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children.
For the Everest Base Camp Challenge their trek will begin and over the next 13 days they will, with the assistance of local guides and Sherpas, retrace the footsteps of some of the world’s most famous explorers, reaching Everest Base Camp on October 15.
Each participant must raise a minimum of £2,995 and full fundraising and training support will be given by the charity throughout. For further information about the trek, contact Jenny in the fundraising office on 01565 830 053, or visit the trek’s website www.caft.co.uk/challenge/everest-base-camp
Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/christian-le-louet