Trekking team’s triumphant return

A TEAM which climbed North Africa’s highest peak made a welcome visited the Chiltern Centre in Henley to celebrate raising more than £16,500 for the charity.

The group of 13 employees from Earley-based software firm Workbooks scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains earlier this year, trekking for five days to reach the 4,167m summit.

The Centre, off Greys Road, provides short breaks and day care for young adults aged 16 to 30 with learning disabilities, as well as support for their families.

John Cheney, chief executive of Workbooks who lives in Henley, joined colleagues Jamie Horastead and Jeanie Hardin-Matthews at the centre to present the cheque.

“I’m very proud of the Workbooks team who climbed Mount Toubkal,” he said. “It’s difficult to describe how physically challenging it was – we trekked for 28 hours and slept for only 14 hours over three days

“However, our efforts pale into insignificance against the day-to-day challenges of the young adults who are supported by the Chiltern Centre. Our whole team were so pleased to have raised more than £16,000 for the charity.”