A TEAM of West Devon adventurers have recently returned from a 12-day charity trek to Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar in the Himalayas, having hopefully raised more than £15,000 for Country Holidays for City Kids (Chicks) near Milton Abbot.

From Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, the team of 15 staff and volunteers flew into a tiny airstrip at Lukla, and trekked through alpine, mountain and glacial regions for 12 days, during which they made it to Everest Base Camp in freezing temperatures.

Ten members of the team managed to go further to ascend Kalapathar at a height of more than 18,200 feet. Several of the team also made it to Dingboche Peak.

Volunteer Mark Warne, from Tavistock, who joined the team as a last-minute stand-in, said the group were ?tired but elated? following their achievement.

?On the long day we made it to the top, we left at 3am and trekked along a moraine glacier by moonlight.

?The sherpas said it was -20C and the wind was chilling matters further. To say it was ?parky? would be an understatement,? he said.

The group camped in simple tents and had a team of sherpas and yaks to help carry supplies each day.

As they passed through villages, CHICKS staff stopped to play with children left behind by working parents.

A Rhino rugby ball was carried along the full distance and proved a hit with children, who enjoyed playing ?catch? with the unusually shaped ball.

The dramatic geography of the region dictates that transport is only by foot or animal, and supplies are limited to what can be carried.

Basic sanitation is a luxury and most of the group suffered some sickness on top of the effects of altitude, at some point during the trip.

Emily John, who co-ordinated the expedition, said all the team were struck by how content the locals were with what little they had.

?They are warm, happy, welcoming and peaceful,? said Emily.

On the last evening the group gave personal donations and equipment to the Sherpa families, who repaid the gesture with a traditional celebration and dancing well into the night.

The full team was: Debbie Clarkson, Wizzy Francis, Debbie Horrell, Emily John, Tony John, Becky Kernutt, John Leebody, Peter Osborne, David Polonowski, David Provan, Zoe Sibbick, Rod Taylor, Jenny Venning, Karen Vidler and Mark Warne.

CHICKS give activity holidays to disadvantaged children from across the UK at its base in Dunterton.

The charity hopes to open another centre in Cornwall next year and is entirely dependent on donations. Any offers of sponsorship or support are welcomed on 01822 870692 or at http://www.chicks.org.uk">www.chicks.org.uk