A CHARD woman took on a challenge involving the biggest mountain on the planet and raised more than £3,000 for a charity close to her heart in the process.

Rachel Waller, 26, started her fundraising drive in October inspired by her grandfather’s battle with Alzheimer’s and has now completed a trek to base camp on Mount Everest.

Ahead of her challenge, Rachel said: “My amazing Grandad was actually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year which took a toll on our family, but with family support he is keeping strong.

“Having been unaware of the effects of this disease until now, I never knew how it might one day destroy the people we love. What’s the point in a good life if we can’t remember it?

“It gave me the idea to do something for Alzheimers Research UK in the hope one day there will be a cure.”

The challenge was made even harder when Rachel came down with food poisoning in Kathmandu the day before her team was set to depart.

However, she had recovered enough to fly into Lukla airport on day one, March 11.

Lukla is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world at an altitude of 2,800m.

On day two, they entered the Sagarmatha National Park and trekked to Namche Bazaar at an altitude of 3,400m.

Rachel got her first sight of the Everest peak on day four, when she was also told she would need to remove all rings and bracelets for fear they would cut off the circulation to her hands.

By day six her team and reached Dingboche at a height of 4,300m, and spent a day acclimatising to the altitude.

Just over a week into the trek, one of the climbing party was sent back due to seriously low oxygen levels.

After a shot to increase their oxygen levels and stop liquid collecting in her brain, it didn’t work so unfortunately their journey ended there.

On day nine they lost another team member due to hypothermia and low iron levels with temperatures falling as low as -20C.

At 1pm on Monday, March 19, the remaining team members finally reached their goal of Everest base camp at 5,364m, and celebrated with a shot of Baileys while surrounded by a glacier.

Chard & Ilminster News:

By day 12, Rachel had returned to Lukla Airport having covered 124km – approximately 256,000 steps.

Rachel added: “It was a very intense trek, physically straining and emotionally hard too.

“We had severe headaches most days from the altitudeand our group contained 14 trekkers, seven sherpas, one doctor and four yaks.

“The trek was all in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK and my grandad who was recently diagnosed.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored me, especially for the support of my friends and family, and a big source of donations from The Squirrel Inn, Laymore, which hosted a charity fun day in October which raised over £500 itself.”

You can still donate at justgiving.com/rachclimbseverest.