A group of colleagues have returned from an unforgettable Himalayan adventure as they treked to the Everest Base Camp after raising more than £10,000 for charity.
Bolton at Home colleagues Edward Mellor, Vicki Powell, Owen Tomlin and Steve Roden, have returned to Bolton after a two-week trek to Everest Base Camp, which sits at a staggering elevation of 5,364m, to raise money for charity.
And thanks to donations from colleagues, friends, family members and others, a total of £12,500- was raised for Reuben’s Retreat, smashing the teams original target of £9,200.
Established in 2012 following the loss of a wonderful young boy, Reuben Michael Graham, Reuben’s Retreat supports families of complexly poorly children and families of child loss - much of which is provided from their ‘Forever Home’ in Glossop.
It’s a charity Bolton at Home has supported for several years given the "delightful impact it’s had on some of their colleagues and their families".
Steve Roden, Head of IT at Bolton at Home, said: “Take 20 strangers – drop them halfway around the world away from their loved ones – remove all usual creature comforts – add physical exhaustion, freezing temperatures, lack of oxygen, and questionable toilet facilities and what do you get?
"A team, behind one goal, raising a huge sum for a fantastic cause and without doubt one of the best things I have ever had the luck to be a part of.
"It was an absolute privilege and I just want to say a big thanks to all our supporters and to Bolton at Home for allowing us to do this for Reuben's Retreat."
Vicki Powell, Head of Governance, Regulation, and Business Assurance at Bolton at Home said: “It was a real honour to be part of the Bolton at Home team supporting Reuben’s Retreat.
"The altitude, temperatures, and bridges were a real challenge- but the power of teamwork shone through with all of us reaching base camp and returning safely.
"I’ve made friends and memories for life and the support makes a huge difference to the families using Reuben’s Retreat."
Owen Tomlin, Gas and Electric Supervisor at Bolton at Home, added: “The trip exceeded all of my expectations.
"I feel honoured and privileged to have been able to represent Bolton at Home on this expedition and give back to such a worthy cause in Reuben’s Retreat.
"I had the time of my life, made some lifelong friends and made memories that'll last a lifetime."
Edward Mellor, Bolton at Home’s Group Director of Finance, said: “I think if we’d all been walking up to base camp as individuals, only about half would have made it, but doing it as a group helped push people along and meant we all got there together.
“It was a massive relief to make it and several tears that the hardest part was over.
"Reaching base camp will always stand out, but the friendships developed with the other 12 people on trek who came from four different continents were another standout memory."
You can learn more Reuben’s Retreat here: www.reubensretreat.org.
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