Mission Heights Junior College Year 9 Mountains Whanau students commemorated the 65th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Everest by raising funds to help the people of Nepal.
Students raised more than $1600 with bake sales, food stalls, games, and a challenge to run 8848m (the height of Everest) in less than two hours.
The funds will help the work of the Himalayan Trust, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in the 1960s to improve life for the people who made his adventures in the Himalayas possible.
Global Studies teacher Miriam Martin Ortega said: “The students have been learning about Sir Ed and his inspirational achievements. One of the cornerstones of our school life is ‘leadership through service’, which is something Sir Ed demonstrated.
“We are very proud to be able to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the summit of Everest in this way and to know we are helping to improve lives in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.”
Prue Smith, general manager of the Himalayan Trust said: “The Himalayan Trust is so proud and honoured to see just how much work the Mission Heights Junior College students have put into this event.
“To Sir Ed, his greatest achievement was not climbing to the summit of Everest, but helping the people of Nepal,” he said.
“These young New Zealanders are keeping Sir Ed’s legacy alive. The funds they have raised will improve schools and healthcare, and bring safe water to remote mountain communities in the Everest region of Nepal.”
