In April 2012, 25 trekkers and a small climbing team flew to Kathmandu in Nepal to trek to Everest base camp. The gruelling trek over 120 miles took the team to heights of 18,500 feet, through some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

In St. James's Place's 20th Anniversary year, the team aims to raise £250,000 for our Foundation. However, this will be matched pound for pound by St. James's Place Wealth Management, therefore enabling them to possibly raise £500,000 to help fund a multitude of projects that help children with special needs, and hospices.

The trekkers went through a rigorous selection process to ensure that they had a good chance of reaching Base Camp, and returning safely. However, many were not seasoned fell walkers who were used to long days in the hills and roughing it. Many found this an extreme physical and mental challenge where they were completely outside their comfort zone for three weeks.

They followed the route to Base Camp taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing in 1953. It required careful acclimatisation, as they went higher and higher. Base Camp has only one third of the air that you will find at sea level, so their bodies needed to adjust gradually.

Once they reached Everest Base Camp, the trekking team said goodbye to the climbing team, and head south. The climbing team will then continue the route taken by Hillary and Tenzing to the summit of Everest.

The mission is simple -

25 Trekkers, in the company's 20th year, to Everest Base Camp
raising £500,000 for worthwhile causes. One member on the summit of Everest.

Your sponsorship is vital in helping those charities at home and abroad who so desperately need resources and cash to carry out their work. Every penny you donate goes to those charities, as every trekker and climber is paying all costs of the trip themselves.