On Sat 3 October the Raf Waddington Fire Service attempted to climb a ladder to the height of Mount Everest to raise funds for Help for Heroes. Bryn and Emma Parry founded Heroes in October 2007 out of a desire to help the wounded Servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Shoppers in Lincoln City Centre were invited to support a team of 20 fire fighters from RAF Waddington as they attempted to climb the height of Mount Everest (8,848 metres) in just 7 hours. The challenge will took place in City Square, Lincoln on Saturday 3rd October. The fire fighters needed to climb and descend the ladders 130 times every hour in order to succeed. 20 fire fighters took part in the challenge. The funds raised from the event will go to an overall fundraising total of £3,000 which will allow Corporal Wheeler to take part in the ‘Help for Heroes Sahara Trek Challenge’ in November 2009. This challenge is a 100 km trek across the Sahara desert.
The organiser Corporal Eddie Wheeler, Deputy Watch Leader at RAF Waddington said: “Help for Heroes is a charity many of the fire-fighters support due to their exposure to injured personnel whilst serving in Afghanistan and previously Iraq. The RAF Fire Service has many roles on operations, including assisting with casualty handling at the Camp Bastion Hospital heliport.” You can support the ‘Help for Heroes Sahara Trek Challenge’ at www.justgiving.com/eddiewsaharatrek.