Duo aim to be in peak form for challenge
AN INTREPID duo from Ipswich will be setting off for the Himalayas in April where they plan to trek more than 25 miles to raise money for a charity, which helps children with illnesses.
By Nick Richards
AN INTREPID duo from Ipswich will be setting off for the Himalayas in April where they plan to trek more than 25 miles to raise money for a charity, which helps children with illnesses.
Dick Partridge and Ray Walters will take part in the Annapurna Challenge Trek in order to raise money for Action Research.
The trek will be across a variety of different terrain and at one part of the trek will be at an altitude of 8,000ft.
Dick, 45, who lives in Henley Road, said that finding similar conditions to the Himalayas in Suffolk had proved difficult and both he and Ray have had to use their imagination.
He said: "The terrain is nowhere near the same, but we've done a bit of walking at Orford Spit which is quite hard work.
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"I play a lot of squash which helps with fitness and also do a lot of walking. I will step up the training nearer the time, but I'd say I'm currently walking around 25-30 miles per week."
It is expected that the trek through the Himalayas will take around six days.
Although the passes are not as high as many others in the Himalayas, the gradient can be steep in places.
Dick said: "We will need a lot of water, though thankfully most of our gear is being carried by porters, so we will only have to carry a rucksack.
"We will be walking for around eight hours each day and it will be the spring time, so I expect it will be tough. I know that the temperature drops well below freezing in the night".
Dick and Ray are no strangers to gruelling experiences – they have taken part in six Paris-Dakar rallys between 1988 and 2000.
The decision to take part in the trek in Nepal came about after they decided not to go on another rally but still wanted to do something interesting for charity
n Dick and Ray are paying all their costs in Nepal, but are still hoping to raise £2,500 for Action Research.
If you would like to donate some money to their appeal call Dick Partridge on 07768 435146 or 01473 230149 or go to the following web link:
https://secure.actionresearch/sponsor/index.php?id=78
