Students embark on epic Everest stair climb

Ambitious students plan to scale the height of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, without leaving Ripon Grammar School. ANNABELLE PATERSON reports (see update below)

IN support of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, Ripon Grammar School officers have set themselves a mountain of a challenge this year.

As a fundraising event the twelve school officers, in a combined effort, will climb the 8,848 vertical metre height of Everest - the tallest point on Earth - on the school’s science block stairs.

The ambitious expedition involves each school officer climbing four flights of stairs 116 times – adding up to a total of 1,392 climbs - before school breaks up on December 18.

Each officer faces ascending more than 700m of stairs, a gruelling and tiring task which is certainly going to test their stamina, while other sixth formers keep count.

The students, who are all in their own sixth form 'bubble', will be climbing the stairs after school, when the science block is empty.

Students are very grateful for the donations to date and welcome any further support offered, if you would like to contribute, please visit our JustGiving Page http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rgsschoolof... and click the Gift Aid box if applicable.

*The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust provides support for schools, employers and communities to encourage diversity and equal opportunities, as well as resources and information for young people from underprivileged and under represented backgrounds to access careers and higher education.

UPDATE: They've done it! Congratulations to the students who completed their climb in just two hours, to raise £1,100 for the Stephen Lawrence Trust. A fantastic achievement!

The team also won a JustGiving Fundraising Legend award, for being in the top ten per cent of fundraisers for the month.