January 2002 Meeting - From Durrington to Nepal …

The first meeting of the year for Andover Women in Business Club was held at The Red Lion, Clanville. One of the Club's long-standing members gave a personal insight into a challenging trek, undertaken last year in aid of Cancer Research.

Sheila Laughton, known more locally as Headmistress of All Saints School, Durrington, gave a fascinating talk on the high and low points of her trek across Nepal. While most of us decide to celebrate our 60th birthday with a party or meal, Sheila decided she would do something more adventurous. Having heard some interesting publicity done for the trip, a trek across Nepal it was to be!

Her first challenge was to raise £2,500 for Cancer Research in order to qualify. Sheila achieved this by organising events locally and gaining sponsorship from local companies. Then began the fitness preparations, working out four nights a week at the gym and walking for three hours each Saturday and Sunday to build up her strength. A far cry from retirement at 60!

On 19 March 2001, she set off for Katmandu and joined 31 others who were to become her close companions for the trip. Having met up in Pokhara with their Sherpas, the trek began.

Sheila illustrated her talk with photographs of the colour, poverty and breathtaking scenery she encountered, especially from the mountainous vantage points. Trekking for six days, eight hours a day was hard work, but a wonderful achievement. Some things were more difficult to cope with, like the vast ranges in temperature - a hot 100° in Katmandu down to -10° at their final camp.

As Sheila concluded her talk, announcing a total of £3,500 raised for Cancer Research, many members wondered if they might celebrate their 60th birthday in such energetic style!