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Scouts climb Everest without leaving the local shopping centre


SCOUTS climbed the height of Everest – but did it within the safety of a shopping centre.

About 40 youngsters, aged five to 14, continuously clambered over a one-metre high wooden trestle in the middle of George Yard, Braintree, in a bid to climb just over 8,800 metres.

Starting at 9am on Saturday, the members of 1st Braintree Scout Group reached their target at 3.30pm.

They raised about £800 for a new roof and kitchen at their John Ray Street headquarters.

Assistant Cub Scout leader Andy Southgate said: “1st Braintree Scouts is the oldest group in the town. We were 100 years old last year and we are in a hut that was built in 1927, so it needs a lot of work.”

The total cost of the work is about £50,000 and the project has been ongoing for five years.

Next fundraiser is a quiz on March 21, at the HQ at 7.30pm.

Comments(1)

Goonerboy says...
10:26am Thu 12 Mar 09

Like many scout and guide groups across the country great activities are being held week in week out.Most groups are working out of huts that should have been condemned years ago.
I understand that such groups get no funding from the lottery. ( It was mentioned that the scout association is not representative of the UK ethnic population, despite having groups in 200 plus countries in the world) .For most sensible people the lottery was set up to help exactly these types of youth groups who provode activities and experiences that are invaluable for young people. It is also why many people have stopped buying a ticket. The unused lottery funds sitting in the bank could buy a new hall for every village and group in the land, for the benefit of all local groups and fund raising could be used for new activities. Well done to Braintree on their efforts


1st Braintree Scouts celebrate the fundraising climb in George Yard. 1st Braintree Scouts celebrate the fundraising climb in George Yard.

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