Make a mountain of it

Alongside former and current professional rugby players, Ms Easthope took a break from managing Wetherby Senior admissions to climb almost 10% the height of Everest. The event saw Ed Jackson, a former professional rugby player turned adaptive adventurer and his friend, fellow adventurer Ross Stirling, climb the spiral ramp at Twickenham over a 48-hour period, raising money for the Millimetres 2 Mountains Foundation, Restart Rugby and 4ED.

Ms Easthope explains: “Ed and Ross were aiming to scale the height of Everest and encouraged others to climb with them, so England and Saracens players Elliot Daly and Jamie George, plus ex-Leicester Tigers and Gloucester player Ed Slater, also took part. Starting at 5pm on Friday, they completed their challenge in 31 hours, climbing 8,848 metres each way up and down the spiral ramp (and stairs), so walked a total of 176 miles.

“I completed 849 vertical metres (almost 10% of Everest’s height), which was 11 times up and down the ramp in 2 hours and 18 minutes. Below is a picture I took from the top!”

Set up by Ed Jackson in 2019, the Millimetres 2 Mountains Foundation uses the outdoors, challenge, and adventure to help others overcome physical and/or psychological trauma. From this event, it will donate 50% of funds raised to Restart Rugby and 4ED, which was set up to support rugby player Ed Slater and his family, after his motor neurone disease diagnosis.

To donate to Twickerest, please click here.