Everest Challenge sees a record number of walkers
A RECORD number of islanders have stuck to their New Year’s resolutions as taken on the wet and windy weather for this year’s Val des Terres Everest Challenge.
The annual event, which started in 2019, has been running since the start of the month and has already seen 144 groups raise £11,000 for the Smile for Georgie Foundation.
This smashes last year’s total of 108, which was the previous record, and equates to about 500 individual entrants.
‘The uptake has been absolutely amazing and it’s really nice to see a wide variety of participants all encouraging each other to push through,’ said event co-organiser Sue Farnham.
Walkers ranging from corporate groups to dog walkers have been challenged to complete the 1.6km-long Val des Terres, George Road and Havelet circuit, with a 77m climb, 115 times by the end of the month to reach the equivalent 8,848m of the world’s highest peak.
First time participant, retired Steve Cliff, has hit the ground running this January as he completed his ninetieth lap on only the 16th day.
He said he was inspired to take part due to encouragement from a friend and has found it pretty gruelling.
‘It’s mentally tough to keep pushing through but once it’s completed I know I’m going to feel a real sense of achievement,’ he said.
Regular walker Gwen Wilson took up the challenge in order to maintain her fitness and like many others has not paid attention to the cloudy and rainy skies.
‘You’ve just got to get on with it. If you waited around for sunny weather then you wouldn’t get very far,’ she said.
Rothschild and Co employees Vicky Green, Elizabeth Gill, Linda Boucher-Harris and Amy Madden have all been walking together in their lunch breaks to tally up laps as part of a corporate group and have enjoyed the community atmosphere the event creates.
‘What’s great is that anyone can take part, we encourage everyone to get their families involved,’ said Mrs Green.
‘The social aspect is really nice and it’s good to get out in the fresh air at lunchtimes. It cheers up January and it’s all for a good cause,’ said Ms Gill.
Organisers now hope to reach £20,000 across the rest of the month which Smile for Georgie will put towards the transformation of the former landfill site at Creve Coeur into a nature reserve.
A donation will also be made to Diabetes Guernsey.
n New entrants are still welcomed and more information is available on the group Facebook page – bit.ly/3Foz32H.
