TWO Westbury clubs have come together to raise £421.21 after taking part in a Everest Challenge charity event.
Westbury Wheelers and Westbury Running Club ran or cycled up the steep 1.1 mile climb to the White Horse to raise money for the West Wilts Youth Sailing Association.
The course taken by runners and cyclists was from the White Horse Pottery to the crossroads at the top, with each ascent costing £3. In total 50 people managed to complete 100 ascents, with two people managing four ascents.
The event surpassed its fundraising target as the two Westbury groups hoped to raise £195, the equivalent of 65 ascents, which is the same height of Mount Everest (29,000 feet).
The money raised went to West Wilts Sailing Club to help go towards the huge cost of replacing equipment after a theft and fire at the Westbury-based club last year.
The cheque was presented by Mark Welbourn a Westbury Wheeler Club member who has two sons who sail with WWYSA, to Nic Cross who is principal of the sailing club.
The Everest Challenge started in 2011 as a fun way of raising money for charity and has now become an annual fixture in the Westbury Wheeler Club’s calendar. The idea came from founder member of the Wheelers, John Weaire. The main purpose of the event was to raise money for Joss Tilley’s new lightweight wheelchair through the www.help4joss.org appeal. After the event a raffle was held in the Lopes Arms and a total of £650 was raised. Since then, they have raised money for charities such as the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and now West Wilts Sailing Club.
The quickest to climb the 1.1 mile ascent this year was Jack Gover who completed it on his bike in five minutes 46 seconds. This placed him just three seconds behind the all-time record set by Sam Pictor in 2011.
The quickest female was Sophie Gover who also cycled the route in an impressive time of seven minutes and 47 seconds which was enough to give her the best ever female time in the event.
Peter Valeski was the quickest runner to complete the climb as he finished in eight minutes and 22 seconds. Zoe Sheffield was the fastest female runner finishing in eight minutes and 41 seconds.
For a full list of results visit www.westburywheelers.co.uk
