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Student climbs to the highest classroom on earth

This news article was published more than a year ago. Some of the information may no longer be accurate.

Published: 03/09/2013


Ryan is one of just ten students with complex learning difficulties and challenging behaviour to make it through the arduous selection programme. In October he will climb to Everest Base Camp and then on to Kala Patthar, which is 1500 ft above Base Camp. He will be accompanied by his mentor and student support worker Rich Crossley, along with sporting legends, business mentors and a BBC film crew.

Cllr Ian Blair, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “This unique initiative presents a chance for students to develop their self-belief and overcome adversity. I wish Ryan the very best of luck with this unique opportunity to climb to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. It will be a huge challenge, but also a very rewarding achievement that the students involved will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Tania Craig, Executive Head Teacher at New Horizons Learning Centre said: “This is an amazing achievement for Ryan, following months of hard work and training, as well as gruelling challenges to get to the stage of selection. We are all very proud of Ryan and are looking forward to him being able to show us the photos and talk to us about the experience when he returns. It is a life changing opportunity!”

She added: “We now have the challenge of raising the £6,000 to enable him to go – we do not want the money to be the sticking point, so we are frantically fundraising in advance of the trip. If anyone would like to support Ryan in this challenge, we would welcome any donations. ”

The Just Giving Page for donations can be found at www.justgiving.com/HighestClassroom-RyanHouse

The last qualifying expedition was a mammoth climb of the three peaks in Wales – Cadair Idris, Pen y Fan and Snowdon in just a 24 hour period. At the end of the challenge, 16 students were whittled down to just ten, including Ryan.


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