The Hospitality Industry Trust launches fundraising challenge

The 10 day climb starts in January 2011 and will raise money for the Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, a charity supporting people working within Scottish hospitality. A group of 14 of the climbers met on the top of Arthur's seat in Edinburgh for Burns supper to launch their fundraising appeal. Money will be raised through corporate sponsorship, individual donations and at HIT Scotland events such as their industry dinner on in March. The group includes hospitality professionals, including some of Scotland's best known restaurateurs and hoteliers. Each is paying their own way for the trip. Together the group are aiming to raise around £150,000. The group, with help from their support team and an experienced climbing organisers, plan to host Burn's supper as high as they can go towards the summit without endangering the trip. It will be prepared by Michelin starred chef and climber Andrew Fairlie. The team will spend the next twelve months building up their fitness and altitude training for the expedition through walks across Scotland. During the trip they could face hypothermia, sun stroke, dehydration and acute altitude sickness. All the money raised will go towards the HIT's bursary and scholarship funds. For the first year they are also taking student representatives from college and university to Europe's top hospitality school in Lausanne. David Cochrane, chief executive of HIT Scotland, said: "The hospitality industry is extremely important to Scotland and we can't take the next generation of leaders for granted. These senior professionals are showing their enthusiasm for great Scottish hospitality, not just to raise money but also to lead by example and support the emerging talent of our industry."