Moroccan mountain trek raises £24,000

EIGHT people climbed a 4,167m high mountain in Morocco to raise money for a Henley charity.

They reached the top of Mount Toubkal after three days of trekking through the Atlas Mountains.

The volunteers raised £24,000 for the Chiltern Centre, which supports young people with disabilities and their families.

They included Nick Steel, from Wargrave, a trustee of the charity, and Cheryl Purver, from Shiplake, a community fundraiser.

The others were Ben Ansell, from Kingwood Common, Matt Mackinnon and Jenny Williamson, from Henley, Marc Gross, from Caversham, Jane Ainslie, from Wokingham, and Malcolm McGilchrist, from Surrey.

The group trekked for between eight to 14 hours a day in temperatures of up to 40C. Each day, they averaged a 1,000m ascent. They slept in mountain refuges. Mrs Purver, 44, said: “As the blisters subside and the bruises fade, it's hard to believe that just days ago I was standing on top of a 4,167m mountain that had been conquered by woman power alone.

“As a skier, I thought I’d been on top of the world but that pales into insignificance to the mix of utter exhaustion and total exhilaration as you touch the shrine of the tallest mountain in Morocco, Mt Toubkal.

“My fellow trekkers calculated day one was ‘double Nevis’, day two was just shy of Mount Fuji and day three was incalculable due to the 3,000m descent that followed our trip to the top.

“There have been some adrenaline-filled antics in my life but when you complete that last zigzag, the sun hits you square in the face for the first time that day. When that illustrious peak starts peeking back at you, there are no words to describe the moment.”

Mr Gross, 48, was inspired to do the trek as his sister-in-law, Amelia Ash, works at the centre.

He said: “It was an amazing trip with an awesome crew. It was well worth the effort. I gained new mates and Morocco exceeded my expectations. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Chiltern Centre, your generosity is astounding and it spurred us on.

“You should feel immense pride in knowing your donations will directly improve the lives of young adults and their families, who have their own significant challenges.

“Amelia Ash, you are not only an epic sister-in-law but also our inspiration for the trip.”

To make a donation, visit https://tinyurl.com/cw4trs3u