Mountain high for Steve

ON the climb . . . Steve Hill

NOT content with scaling Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Mount Elbrus, a thrill-seeking Shaw teacher has taken on the challenge of Mount Everest to raise money for charity.

Steve Hill, deputy head at St Joseph’s Primary School, has just completed his latest challenge, the Tenzing Hillary Mount Everest Marathon.

This pushed the total he has raised for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, When You Wish Upon A Star, Macmillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer’s Society well above £40,000.

Mr Hill began his excursion on May 15 by trekking to Everest base camp and climbed Mount Kala Patther, standing at 18,372ft, before completing the marathon.

Mr Hill said: “I wanted to keep up the momentum of our fundraising so decided to undertake the mammoth challenge of competing in the highest and toughest marathon in the world — and it was my first marathon.

“The children were fully behind me, totally engaged and involved in my planning and preparations.”

Mr Hill spent 12 days trekking through the Himalayas to Everest base camp and acclimatising to the altitude in preparation for the marathon. The marathon started near the Khumba ice-fall in the snow and the route then continued on rough tracks and trails to Namche Bazar at 11,305ft.

Mr Hill finished the marathon in nine hours, 52 minutes and 55 seconds and said he felt a huge sense a achievement on its completion.

He added: “The scenery was truly spectacular and my first views of Everest were very special indeed.

“This really was an unbelievably tough challenge but also a truly unforgettable experience.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Hill14 to donate to the cause.