Employees from some of the UKís leading companies have signed up to take part in the ultimate team challenge ñ Britainís first ever ascent of Ben Nevis led by disabled people in wheelchairs on 31st May 2008.
Staff from Barclays, Swift Mobility, Lombard, Blackbaud and Burness, the event sponsor and the Mountain Misfits (which will include members from Redpath Bruce, DSV and Burness LLP) will be taking part in this exciting challenge.
Two of the UKís leading disability organisations, Capability Scotland and Scope, have joined forces with Beyond Boundaries presenter and ex-SAS Major, Ken Hames to organise this challenge. Teams from both charities will also be taking part in the event, bringing the total number of teams to eight.
The challenge will involve teams of disabled and non-disabled people working together to conquer Britainís highest peak. Each team of six people will be led by a wheelchair user, who will help navigate and direct their team up to the summit in the quickest time.
Each team has to raise 10,000 for the event which will be used to support services for disabled children and adults throughout the UK.
The ground breaking challenge event is the brainchild of Ken Hames and Philip Rodney, chairman of leading Scottish law firm Burness. Inspired by the Beyond Boundaries 3 documentary in which Ken crossed the Andes with two wheelchair users, the pair came up with the idea of an event to both challenge and develop staff from leading companies and help achieve disabled peopleís equality.
Ken Hames said: ìThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in the ultimate team challenge and itís fantastic that some of the UKís leading companies have signed up for this exciting and worthwhile event.
ìIt will certainly test their powers of leadership, teamwork and communication skills. However, the sense of achievement, valuable skills developed and positive impact on staff morale will have important benefits for all the companies involved that extend far beyond the event itself.î
Leading UK firms get ready to conquer the Ben Nevis challenge
Britainís first ever ascent of Ben Nevis led by disabled people in wheelchairs on 31st May 2008.
