Five fundraisers walking the distance of the lowest to the highest point on Earth, in 24 hours

This Saturday, Joe Griffiths MStJ, a member of the St John Ambulance Cymru Gwent Council, along with four of his fellow medic students, took part in an exciting charity challenge. The group climbed a distance the equivalent of the bottom of the Mariana Trench to the top of Mount Everest. This huge 20,000m feat took place on the stairs at the Cochrane Building in the University Hospital of Wales.

Joe Griffiths MStJ, Will Harman-Cashmore, Callum Tetro, Emyr Thomas and Ewein Howes continuously walked the stairs for over 24 hours, throughout the night, to raise money for St John Ambulance Cymru.

“I am a member of St John council in Gwent and I have been an active fundraiser for them for a few years now” Joe says, “I wanted to go big this year and make it a physical challenge. Not a common one, but one that’s a bit different”.

Climbing the equivalent distance of the lowest point on earth to the highest point is definitely an out of the ordinary challenge. Joe recruited four of his friends and fellow medical students to take on the challenge with him, in a place they are all very familiar with. The group are excited to raise some important funds for a charity close to their hearts.

“I love the work St John Ambulance Cymru does in teaching first aid to all age groups and I like that the money I have raised on previous events, and hopefully this one, goes towards important projects in the community”.

“I like the volunteering aspect and I know St John Ambulance Cymru are there at events when the public needs them most.”

Joe and his team were looking forward to one particular milestone during their challenge; reaching the equivalent distance between the Mariana Trench and sea level. This would mean they’d be approximately 3/5 way through their challenge.

 “I am quite nervous as it’s a huge undertaking. We are going to be exhausted” Joe said, but he was excited to get started.

All their hard work is in the name of raising vital funds to support Wales’ leading first aid charity. Joe feels passionately about the charity’s lifesaving work in his local community of Gwent, and others around Wales. St John Ambulance Cymru is special to Joe and his team, so they are determined to succeed.

The funds they raised will help the charity deliver important first aid training, educational and fun youth programmes, and first aid cover at key events, making Wales a safer place for all.

Joe’s team need help to reach their fundraising target, so if you are able to support then please visit https://gofund.me/d74a39e5.

You can find out more about fundraising for St John Ambulance Cymru here: www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/fundraising.