Girls go the distance in ‘horizontal Everest’ challenge for Nepal

July 3, 2015

Kind-hearted girls and teachers took on a demanding ‘horizontal Everest’ challenge to raise money for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

Around 160 pupils and 20 members of staff at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls covered 8,000m in swimming, running and rowing relay races to mark the last day of term.

With each team member donating £2 to enter, and a Just Giving page set up for online donations, the School raised almost £1,000 for the cause.

Profits from a recent HMSG photography exhibition also helped make up the contribution.

Debra Davies, housemistress and chairman of HMSG’s charity committee, said: “There was a great atmosphere and every girl between Years 7 and 10 who was able to, took part in the challenge.

“Even girls who aren’t natural runners got involved – it was a brilliant team effort.

“At the end, during the ergo race, everyone stood around in a circle to cheer the rowers on.”

Pupils at HMSG were desperate to do something to help the eight million people thought to have been affected by the tragic earthquake, which happened in April.

Rachel, in Year 8, has grandparents and other family members living in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and was particularly moved to make a difference.

“Prabhat Shah from Pontypool, who was seeing relatives in Nepal when the earthquake struck, came to speak to the girls in assembly last week” Debra continued.

“Some friends of his had made a video especially for us when they heard we were raising money for them.

“Lots of Nepalese children were saying ‘good luck’ to the girls, encouraging them to ‘run hard’ and thanking them for their support.

“I think it made the whole thing more real for the girls, to see those children laughing and joking who are just like them, but a lot less well-off.

“It made the challenge a lot more personal.”

Four teams of pupils, representing each of the houses at HMSG, took part in every Everest event, with a team of staff also competing.

“Overall, the staff team won,” Debra added.

“It was a really positive way to end the last day of term.”

Younger girls at Inglefield House, the preparatory school for HMSG, have also raised nearly £1,000 for the appeal in the last few weeks with their ‘Grow a Pound’ challenge, cake sales and a sponsored haircut.