Five lads from Mossbourne Community Academy hiked 96 miles to the top of Ben Nevis to raise money for a Hackney sports charity.
The boys, all 17, braved injury, heat and hunger to make it to the summit of Britain’s highest mountain in six days, raising nearly £1,000 for Greenhouse Sports.
“There couldn’t have been a better challenge than choosing the highest mountain in the UK,” Marley Silcott told the Gazette. “The views were sensational, absolutely staggering.”
The tennis lover said he and his friends was forced to push their limits in every way during the trek from Inverness to the peak.
“The biggest mental and physical challenge was definitely the day when we had to walk 28 extra miles,” he said.
One of his friends injured his ankle and the group had to put him on a boat.
“Where the boat stopped was in a place called Gairlochy, 28 miles from Fort Augustus, where we were at the time,” he said.
“We had no choice but to cover that distance before we stopped.
“That day was 25 degrees and was gruelling in every sense.”
They also walked an extra mile that day to have lunch, only to find the café closed.
“We finished the walk in the dark,” Marley added. “It was an ordeal we won’t forget quickly.”
Victory Akam, the boy who hurt his ankle, added: “It was very tough for me to keep up with the rest of the group, especially since the incident took place on the first day.
“But I’m proud we all completed the challenge. It was a really enriching experience.”
The boys are raising sponsorship through a Just Giving page, where they are just a few pounds off their target.
Social media has helped them spread word of the project since they set off on July 15.
Fionn Glancy, another member of the group, said: “It’s really rewarding to raise money for children who aren’t financially able to practise sports.
“The whole experience definitely surpassed my expectations. And we also just had a good laugh about everything.”
The other two participants were Simon Fuentes Dorado and Harry Morrison.
You can add to the boys’ fundraising page at justgiving.com/fundraising/marley-silcott.
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