'Climbers' are rising to the Everest charity challenge!

SHERPAS, crampons, climbing boots and ropes were dispensed with as stout-hearted pub customers undertook to conquer Everest.

Regulars at Canvey’s 1066 Tavern rose to the challenge thrown out by the Anthony Nolan bone marrow appeal and research trust. It was to reach the 29,065ft-high peak within a week.

But they aimed to do it in the island pub. The trust supplied a special set of steps which intrepid participants could scale as often as they wished after paying their £1 donation to the charity. Even a six-foot stint earned them a certificate confirming they were a member of the team that scaled the Himalayan heights.

The idea was the brainchild of Shoebury-based Stuart Soper, the trust’s events manager/or for South of England.

Now pubs, clubs and bars all across South East Essex will be taking up the challenge too.

Mr Soper said: “Doctors reckon climbing steps is probably the best way of getting fit. A trophy is waiting to be presented to the team climbing the greatest distance in 10 minutes, while 1066 managers Chris Coombs and Jean Miller have a wooden spoon for those at the lowest end of the scale.

Jean said the idea had fired the enthusi­asm of her customers. She said: “They are all extremely gener­ous. Some have asked if we have an oxygen cylinder standing by. But they will have to make do with the beer.”

The Anthony Nolan trust keeps the world’s largest register of unrelated bone marrow donors to match with leukaemia sufferers and other patients.

From the Echo Newspaper Archive