Skip to main content
Search Results

Alliance 'steps up' for charity

23rd Dec 2008 - 00:00
Image
Abstract
An intrepid team from Alliance has 'stepped up' for a charitable cause and climbed the steps of the Great Wall of China - raising a huge £12,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Jane Jiggens, general manager of Alliance's East Anglian operation, was joined on the trip by Raymond McCully from the company's High Wycombe depot, Paul Shaw, Alliance's Crewe Transport Manager, as well as a personal friend, Rosie Williams. The foursome trekked for five days along the Great Wall covering a total of 56 km, climbing a staggering 88,000 steps with an accumulative height gain of 3117m. Carrying only a rucksack including the bare essentials – water, food, spare clothing and sun-cream and staying in hostels along the way, the team completed their adventure around Beijing with group effort and support. Jane, who raised £2,700 alone, said: "It was an incredible experience. Every step of the way was truly 'steep' and our greatest challenge was climbing to the top of the 'Stairway to Heaven'. This was on the last day when we had to do over 1,000 steps before even reaching the wall and the weather was against us too!" The team walked a number of different stretches of the wall rather than a single block. The Great Wall has a series of accessible stages, some of which is remote and isolated, other parts are tourist driven and crowded. There are also parts that the military has taken control of and are therefore out of bounds. Jane concluded: "It was also great teamwork. We each had our own personal objectives and we achieved these together. The four of us would agree that we met some terrific people, made some great friends and experienced something unique and wonderful." A further adventure may be beckoning as Jane and her colleagues are now planning another trip – possibly to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2010.
Written by
PSC Team