Three adventurous Worcestershire schoolfriends have handed over a cheque for £4,337 to Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes, after undertaking the notorious 2,400km Rickshaw Run Himalaya challenge.
Sam Garland, 23, from Welland, James Austin, 23, from Clifton upon Teme, and Tom Gidney, 22, from Ombersley, endured landslides, torrential rain, and sleep deprivation to cross the finish line with just seven minutes to spare.
The Rickshaw Run Himalaya challenge, described as ‘a glorified lawnmower versus the highest roads in the world’, attracts teams from across the globe. It was an unforgettable 12-day experience for the former Kings School, Worcester, pupils that tested their friendship and pushed them to the limit.
The race, from Leh, in Kashmir, to Jaisalmer, India, crossed the Himalayas, and reached altitudes more than 5,000 metres above sea level.
Garland, a show staff assistant at Three Counties Agricultural Show, was invited to talk about his experiences to the Charity’s fundraising team at a recent community events meeting, where he was presented with a certificate of appreciation, from Area Fundraising Manager Rhys Edwards.
He said:
“We decided to raise money for Help for Heroes because the three us think the work they do for our Armed Forces community is incredible, through the recovery and support they provide. There are so many incredible individual stories and achievements that are all thanks to Help for Heroes.”
Edwards, Area Fundraising Manager for Worcestershire at Help for Heroes, said:
“Sam, James, and Tom formed a long-lasting bond during this event, and I’m sure that, as a consequence, they will be friends for life.
“It was fascinating to hear about the trip and see in them the ‘can-do attitude’ that we at Help for Heroes also see in the members of the armed forces community we support. And to raise more than £4,000, after setting an initial target of £1,000, is a fabulous achievement to go alongside their success in the challenge.”
Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps them, and their families, to recover and get on with their lives. It has already supported more than 30,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve.
The Charity supports veterans from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked alongside our Armed Forces.
