The junior squad of the White Spider climbing wall in Surbiton has raised £5,182.13 to help the people of Nepal whose lives have been so devastated by the recent earthquakes. White Spider junior squad member Chris Butcher, aged 11, tells us about the day.

When I first heard about the earthquake in Nepal I felt really sad for the people whose relatives had died or who had lost their houses.  So it was great when the squad decided to do something to raise money to help.

The challenge was to climb the height of Mount Everest at White Spider, sharing out the climbing between us.  We didn’t know how long it would take or how tired we would be at the end of it, but we did know that we’d make sure that we did it – the squad loves a challenge!

We started climbing just after 10am. I turned up in my onesie to climb, but pretty soon had to take it off because it was very hot!  We had 14 squad members climbing five at a time, and rotating after ten climbs each.  Lots of us started off climbing quickly, in fact the parents had to swap the metal ATCs (a device used to control the rope) because they were getting so hot!

When we weren’t climbing we all enjoyed the table and chair challenges, (climbing under and over a chair or table without touching the floor). They were harder than they looked!

Reaching the height of the south basecamp in Nepal at 537 climbs (5364m) meant it was time to stop for lunch.  Pizza!  I am not sure that they deliver to Everest base-camp but we were pleased to rest and eat, and to get ready for the second push.

After lunch we did slow down a bit, but reached the summit at about 2.30 in the afternoon. No-one wanted to be left on the ground when we reached the summit, so all the squad members climbed the last of the 885 climbs together, finishing off a great team effort.

The raffle was good too; the squad especially liked eating the cake that Louis won (donated by Yumscrumb) – we had worked up an appetite! I did ache the next day, especially my neck, although lots of us were treated to a massage with Jimmy Morris (Blueline Massage) to try to limit the stiffness for Monday morning back at school.

Thanks to everyone who helped organize it and to the parents who belayed us.  We were so pleased with the money we raised and really hope it helps people in Nepal.”

All funds raised have been sent to Community Action Nepal, a charity registered in the UK by Himalayan climbing legend Doug Scott.

Contact the White Spider

Website: White Spider Climbing Limited

Facebook: facebook.com/WhiteSpiderClimbing

Get involved in our BMC4Nepal charity auction - starts this Sunday at 8pm!

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