Hospice Everest trek raises 'highest ever' amount

A group of 14 headed to Everest base camp hoping to raise £2,500 each

A hospice has achieved its highest fundraising amount from a single event thanks to a trek to Everest Base Camp.

St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston, Cumbria, received donations of £66,720.13 after a group of 14 completed the challenge.

The explorers had been set a target of raising £2,500 each, but they almost doubled that.

Mel Dixon, events and challenges manager, said she was "absolutely blown away" by the sum raised.

She added: "We host a lot of events at St Mary’s Hospice but the amount these guys managed to raise is phenomenal.

"I remember finding out the grand total and just sitting there thinking 'wow'."

The walkers found out how much they raised at an event on Wednesday

The group was guided by Matt Le Voi from LMG Treks and Expeditions.

He said: "As an expedition leader, it's incredibly rewarding taking people to stunning locations around the world, helping them achieve something awesome, often outside of their pre-conceived capabilities."

The group set off on the two-week expedition in April but it wasn't until an event on Wednesday that they found out the grand total.

The hospice said it only gets a fifth of its funding from Government, meaning eight out of 10 patients are cared for through money raised in the community.

The group took on the two-week challenge in April