Perth team conquer “tough” Nevis trek

Oct 19 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

AN INTREPID Perth team who scaled Ben Nevis in a bid to raise cash to help stop an Asian community being ravaged by wild elephants raised £1265.

Ten workmates from the Fair City’s Student Support Centre branch, situated inside the Arran House business centre on Arran Road, tackled the 4406-foot trek to raise money for global charity World Vision.

The good cause presides over projects in the Nalitabari region in Bangladesh, including measures designed to stop the imposing herbivores destroying local houses.

Each year, the elephants come into contact with humans when they enter villages in search of food during the rice and fruit harvesting seasons.

Around 30 houses in the Panihata settlement have been wrecked by a 30-strong herd, resident in the area since early June.

Perth-based general manager Peter Lightbody was one of those who successfully reached the top of the UK’s highest mountain.

He said: “It was hard going, tougher than anyone expected. What started out as a promising day, with glorious sunshine, developed into a freezing hailstorm as we neared the top.

“We persevered, and the quickest members of the team managed to reach the top in three hours – we then waited for the others, eating our sandwiches in the rain!

“It feels great to have exceeded our target, which was set at around the £1000 mark.

“I want to say thanks for all the generous donations we received.

“We’re looking forward to finding out how the money we raised will help fund the World Vision elephant project.”

The Student Support Centre opened its doors in 1991 and offers home-based electronic tuition programmes for children across the UK, between the ages of five and 16 years of age.

For more information visit www.student-support.co.uk