IT’S a terrifying challenge.
But now three Yorkshire Water employees are planning to climb the sixth highest mountain in the world.
They will be joined by a group of friends for the assault on Cho Oyu, in the Himalayas.
Their aim is to raise £100,000 for bladder cancer research, which is being carried out in West Yorkshire.
The research team is headed by Professor Maggie Knowles at St James’s, Leeds.
Phil Purdy, who works as a supply chain manager at Yorkshire Water, will be joined by Peter Bailey and Jeff Crooke on the charity expedition.
They plan to conquer Cho Oyu in the Himalayas, which rises to 8,201m – just 600m less than Everest, the world’s highest mountain.
The team hope the money they raise for Cancer Research UK will help to beat the disease though research, awareness and fundraising.
All three men took on the challenge after members of their family were affected by cancer.
Phil, a married father of four from Halifax, lost his father to lung cancer in 2002.
He has been heavily involved in fund raising for a number of different charities. In 2007, he joined Yorkshire Water colleague Dale Foster to raise more than “25,000 for WaterAid by climbing Chopicalgui, one of the highest mountains in Peru.
He said: “I firmly believe that you get out of life what you put in, and at my age, I might not get many more opportunities to undertake an expedition of this nature.
“I’m going to give it everything I’ve got!”
The trio have so far raised £75,000 through a variety of fundraising events with more planned over the next few months.
If you would like to support the team with sponsorship you can find more information at www.chooyu2009.co.uk or through www.justgiving.com/chooyu2009
