Two Rexel employees will be trekking to Everest base camp this year in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for the Electrical Industries Charity (EIC).
The adventure will take place over a two-week period this autumn, starting on the 28 September and ending at the famous base camp on 10 October.
Rexel’s head of branch marketing, Kate Adamczyk, and head of C&I, Rachel Griffiths, are the pair planning the trip. They will take on the challenge alongside 12 other explorers and will be accompanied by an ex-special forces guide as they climb the 17,500ft to base camp.
Kate said: “Rachel and I wanted a challenge that would test our minds, bodies and souls and we think taking on the greatest walk in the world fits the bill.
“Our aim is to raise £5,000 each, so £10,000 in total for the fundraising event, which will in turn support the EIC – a charity close to our hearts as members of the Rexel team have benefited from the support they offer.
“We have had close ties with the charity for many years and have undertaken various challenges in the past to raise funds. The charity does a fantastic job of helping people facing real hardship within our industry and we’re thrilled to be representing them on this expedition.”
To help raise the funds, Kate and Rachel will be giving suppliers and customers the opportunity to support their mission by sponsoring items such as flags and logos on their kit. They will also be holding fundraising events including quiz nights and bake sales, not forgetting tapping up family and friends for donations. The Rexel branch network will also be raising money through various local events and activities.
Rachel said: “I’m very excited about taking on the Everest base camp climb. Kate and I are both active people who enjoy keeping fit and we love to walk, but this is a challenge beyond anything we’ve done before. It’s going to be tough with the inevitable effects of high altitude, but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and raising money for such a worthwhile cause is all the motivation we need.
“Our training is already underway. We’ve been doing lots of long walks combined with some weight training and even some boxing as it’s great for your overall fitness. This challenge is giving us an opportunity to meet people from different walks of life and to see the beauty of Nepal.”
For more than 100 years, the Electrical Industries Charity has recognised that providing individuals with access to the right support is the catalyst for creating better workplaces and industry communities. Its vision is to be the leading provider of preventative and high impact solutions, genuinely meeting the wellbeing needs of the electrical and energy industries. To find out more about the EIC, visit www.electricalcharity.org.
You can support Kate and Rachel by visiting their Just Giving page here: https://bit.ly/2XKrsVq.