A CIVIL servant from Dousland undertook the biggest challenge of his life when he responded to the challenge set by Whizz-Kidz, the national children's charity.
Matthew Kelly who works at Devonport Naval Base was one of a group of 48 adventurers raising money for Whizz-Kids from this Himalayan Challenge. He decided to take up the challenge after seeing it advertised in a national walking magazine.
'The challenge was not only undertaking the trek itself but also in the meeting of my commitment to raise a minimum of £2,500 for Whizz-Kids,' said Matt.
'Because of my wife's work with Scope and our membership of the Family Link scheme we are very aware of the need for paediatric mobility aids and the profound difference they can make to disabled children and their families.'
Matt said he was particularly grateful to the support received from Tavistock College, HMPO Dartmoor Charity Commission, Swings and Roundabouts, Mr C Pearn, friends, colleagues and family.
Matt's trek started at a small village called Phalesangu after a five-hour coach ride out of Kathmandu. He says surviving the coach trip was 'the first major achievement' of the trek.
The scenery was spectacular — and grew more so as the party moved steadily upwards. One of the longest legs of the trek saw them trekking for eight hours climbing 1,200m in temperatures approaching 30 degrees centigrade in the shade.
Matt said on the fourth day of the trek they awoke to temperatures of minus five degrees. 'The sunrise across the Himalayas from the frosty ridge behind the camp will be one that I will never forget,' he said.
'The final free day in Kathmandu amounted to a full frontal assault on the senses. It was a noisy, bustling, dirty and fascinating experience.'
Matt said throughout the trek the scenery was 'utterly stunning' and everyone they met was not only friendly but also curious about the visitors.
'The friendliness and openness quickly became etched upon us,' he said.
'The few days spent in this very different world enabled all of us to open our hearts and minds to the country and its people.
'A poor country with a poor population by western standards — but what we encountered was a richness of life to be envied by the rest of the world,' said Matt.
Whizz-Kidz is the Movement for Non-Mobile Children, a registered charity and is the largest supplier of paediatric mobility aids outside of the NAtional Health Service.
For further information about Whizz-Kidz, the Himalayan Challenge or future challenges, contact Whizz-Kidz on 0171 2336600.