Trip of a lifetime for adventurous student

5th January 2012 12:24pm - Return to press releases

An ambitious East Riding College student is appealing for help in raising funds towards a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the Himalayas.
Lance Corporal Connor McBain, 16, from Beverley, is one of 26 sea, army and air cadets from the region and five from the Beverley Grammar School Army Cadet Force detachment taking part in the four-week trip to Nepal in the summer of 2012.
He and his fellow cadets are asking people and businesses to join the College in helping towards the £1,200 each cost of the expedition.
 
Connor, who is studying towards a Level Three BTEC Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering at the College's Beverley campus, said: "The Himalaya 2012 expedition is an absolutely amazing opportunity for me. I'll get to experience a once-in-a-life time trip with both a close friend and many more friends that I have met and bonded with through our training.
"The preparation itself has been a great experience and is not something you get to share with just anyone.
"This whole thing is something that stays with you, no matter what, and will be a talking point throughout our lives. It's something I can say I have achieved and be recognised for.
"We would be extremely grateful for any help, however big or small, towards the costs of taking part in the expedition."

Connor's tutor, Roger McTurk, said: "Connor has been studying engineering here for two years, initially as part of the 14 to 19 Diploma which sees school pupils attend college for some of the week, and now as a full-time student.
"He is a very conscientious and hard-working student and he fully deserves support in achieving this ambition of trekking in Nepal.
"As well as being motivated in his studies, he is the student rep for his course so it's no surprise to see him taking on this trekking challenge in the Himalayas."

The cadets will fly into Kathmandu to trek through Nepal from Jiri, visiting Namche Bazaar and the mystical Tengboche Gompa, one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in the world. It is here that climbing expeditions pause to be blessed on their way to Everest. They will reach the highest point at Kala Patthar, at 5,550 metres, which is the highlight of the trip.

Carrying just a light pack they will climb the ridge above Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar from where they will have a panoramic view of Mount Everest and the infamous Khumbu ice fall before returning to lower altitudes and then to Kathmandu. The members will trek during the day and stay overnight at tea houses on the route. 

For more information or to support Connor and his colleagues, call Colonel David Fuller OBE, the expedition director, on 01377 253548 or email [email protected]

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Notes to editors

For more information on this press release, call Matthew Croshaw, marketing and communications manager, on 01482 306612 or email [email protected]