THREE adventurous school friends from Worcestershire have raised £4,337 for the Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes after undertaking a 2,400km Rickshaw Run Himalaya Challenge.
Sam Garland, from Welland, and James Austin, from Clifton upon Teme – both 23 – 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 5,000metres above sea level.
Mr Garland, a show staff assistant at Three Counties Agricultural Show, was invited to talk about his experiences to the charity’s fund-raising team at a recent community events meeting.
There he was presented with a certificate of appreciation, from area fund-raising manager Rhys Edwards.
Mr Garland 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.”
Mr Edwards, Help for Heroes’ Worcestershire fund-raising manager, 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.”
