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A cyclone, stomach bugs and altitude sickness couldn't stop a team of intrepid Reckitt Benckiser employees from raising money for Children in Need during a trek to the Himalayas earlier this month.
The 61-strong team of men and woman from all over the world, teamed up for the charity event which meant trekking for five days through the Indian mountain range at altitudes of up to 5,000 metres.
The group were also given the chance to work with children at a local schools project.
The Reckitt Benckiser Global Challenge was in aid of Children in Need and to date has raised nearly £250,000 - far surpassing its target of £160,000.
“We narrowly escaped being stuck inside the building as the wind almost blew it over on our heads”, said Andraea Dawson-Shepherd, Global Director of Corporate Communication & Affairs at the firm.
“Being there, seeing the devastation, and really getting to know the children who then saw their security falling down before them, it was hard not to want to immediately put your hand in your pocket to help”.
Trekker Stephanie Barnes, from the firm's head office near London, England, was so inspired by her experience on the walk that she is now planning to jump out of an aeroplane for a tandem skydive in aid of the fund.
"It is very difficult to put into words what we shared other than to say it truly was a lifetime experience.
"But for me the highlight was to be working at the projects for the final two days in Leh, playing with the children, leaving them with our wonderful artwork (!). It was so, so fulfilling and the reason I went up and down a mountain!
"Ask me to do it all again and the answer is a definite yes. No hesitation."
The team comprised of Reckitt Benckiser colleagues from around the world and the company supported them by funding the flights, basic expenses and time out of the office.
Caroline Underwood, Save the Children's Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, added: "The determination of these trekkers who battled on to raise funds to save children's lives is an example to us all. Reckitt Benckiser is a long-standing and dedicated partner of Save the Children and the speed with which they have moved to help children and communities repair the damage caused by the cyclone just shows how committed the staff are to achieving results."
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
