Intrepid trekkers from the world of commercial property are feeling on top of the world after they scaled Britain’s highest mountain to raise money for charity.

A team of 10 from Lambert Smith Hampton’s (LSH) Birmingham office walked to the top of Ben Nevis in Scotland.

Fundraising target exceeded

They celebrated after smashing through their target and collecting more than £2,200 for the Edward’s Trust.

The brave volunteers were Gordon Mackay, Seonaid Brown, Richard Jones, Henry Gyselman, Mary Croxford, Mark McFarlane, Tom Williams, Katie Matthews, Matthew Tilt and Joanne Whitaker.

Ben Nevis towers 4,409 ft above Fort William in the Grampian Mountains. It provides a tough test for walkers even in the summer when there can still be ice and snow at its peak.

Gordon said: “We camped in the shadow of Ben Nevis, which was free from cloud, so we could see the top was still covered with snow even though we’re now in June. The following day, the Ben was smothered with cloud, but the wind was light and it was dry so the conditions were good.
 
“We started the walk up the short climb known as Heartbreak Hill to join the main path up the Ben. Quite soon the group split to form two groups with the youngsters led by Richard Jones and Matt Tilt making a dash for the top.

“The second group had decided to take a more leisurely approach by stopping to admire the views and to have a good chat with everyone on the mountain!  The breakaway group made good progress until they hit the snowfields at the top which some found harder than others to deal with. Upon reaching the summit, Henry Gyselman decided to climb on top of the shelter so for a brief moment he was the highest person in the UK.”

He added: “There was fantastic team spirit and camaraderie throughout the trek and everyone involved would like to extend a huge thank you to all that have supported our fundraising efforts.”

Adam Ramshaw, Head of Office at LSH in Birmingham, said: “The team had an amazing couple of days in Fort William and everyone here at LSH is proud of their achievement in raising more than £2,200 for a very good cause.”

About Edward’s Trust

Edward’s Trust was launched by Peter and Hillary Dent in 1989 in memory of their son, Edward, who died of cancer when he was just seven-years-old.

They provide support for anyone affected by the death of a child – whatever their age or cause of death, and support for bereaved children of school age, either at Edward’s Trust or through their outreach work in schools.

They also deliver training and consultation for teachers and other professionals working with bereaved children or families as well as complementary therapies and respite bereavement care for parents and carers. For further information, visit the Edward's Trust website.

Pictured: Katie Matthews, Matthew Tilt, Seonaid Brown, Richard Jones, Joanne Whitaker and Tom Williams.