Peak for Paces

Two years of fundraising, one huge challenge – team prepare to go Peaking for Paces on Everest

A two-year campaign of fundraising building up to one of the toughest challenges imaginable is being launched by a group of supporters of Paces, the leading specialist centre, charity and school for individuals with Cerebral Palsy and motor disorders.

At least ten people will travel to Nepal next November for an 18-day expedition that will see them trek over 70 miles to Everest Base Camp – a height of 5,357 metres.

To prepare for the Peaking for Paces event, and raise as much money as possible in the next 21 months, the team plus their friends and family are holding a series of fundraising activities to support the children, adults and families supported by the charity.

The first of these has concluded this week with a virtual John O’Groats to Lands End cycle ride. Collectively, 1,000 miles has been cycled by the team during January – the distance between the UK’s most extreme locations.

In the coming months, supporters will be taking part in the Sheffield Half Marathon, skydiving, enduring Tough Mudder and trekking the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Snowdon as part of the efforts to bring in tens of thousands of pounds. All the events are on the special website www. peakingforpaces.co.uk.

The Peaking for Paces challenge is now being formally launched by Paces pupil and fundraising superstar, 11-year-old ‘Captain’ Tobias Weller BEM.

In a special video message, he said:

“I'm excited to be able to introduce to you a really big challenge, which an amazing group of people are taking on to support me, my classmates, and everyone at Paces.

“Next November, they will take on the challenge of trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp. Yes, Mount Everest Base Camp! Between now and then there'll be fundraising every month and some brilliant events, which I'm super-excited to hear about.

“I am chuffed to bits that they are supporting Paces and I hope that you are supporting too.”

Dominic Ryles, one of those who came up with the Peaking for Paces challenges, and who will be part of the Everest Base Camp team next year, said:

“Seeing the amazing work which the Paces charity do has really empowered me to do more to support them and I wanted to do that by being taken out of my comfort zone - travelling to Nepal and trekking to Everest Base Camp is certainly that!

“I am so excited for everything that is planned between now and November 2023 and inspired by the young people of Paces, like Captain Tobias, who go above and beyond every day.