Intrepid fire cadets from Cheshire have reached their destination on the adventure of a lifetime with a trip to build a school in Nepal.
Three cadets from Winsford – Louis Greenwood, Hannah Wenborn and Imogen Graffham – and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service ’s Prince’s Trust assistant programme manager at Ellesmere Port were part of the team that set out for Phaplu in Nepal this morning (Tuesday, October 27) to work with the charity Classrooms In The Clouds (CITC).
A Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service (CFRS) said many children in the Basa region of Nepal work or take care of younger siblings or elderly relatives, so have little education.
The group of 15 cadets and nine leaders, raised cash for the trip over two years.
They are:
- Elaine Gnyp - Sandbach Fire Cadet
- Lois Beeson - Knutsford Fire Cadet
- Jessica Lee - Holmes Chapel Fire Cadet
- Jessica Leighton - Holmes Chapel Fire Cadet
- Ryan Lysycia - Holmes Chapel Fire Cadet
- Lydia Stanley-Dale - Holmes Chapel Fire Cadet
- Louis Greenwood - Winsford Fire Cadet
- Hannah Wenborn - Winsford Fire Cadet
- Imogen Graffham - Winsford Fire Cadet
- Poppy Noden - Birchwood Fire Cadet
- Alyx James - Crewe Fire Cadet
- Daniel Simpson - Widnes Fire Cadet
- Sam Robinson - Widnes Fire Cadet
- Declan Hodgson - Runcorn Fire Cadet
- Bethany Heeley - Runcorn Fire Cadet
- Vicky Wrest - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Fire Cadet Manager
- Jen Regan - Cadet Leader at Homes Chapel and Sandbach
- Ben Bradbury - Former Cadet Leader at Sandbach and Cadet Administrator
- Keith Roberts. Cadet Leader at Widnes
- Tony Taylor - Cadet Leader at Macclesfield and Knutsford
- Robyn Taylor - Cadet Leader at Wilmslow and Knutsford
- Trisha Healy - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Prince’s Trust Assistant Programme Manager at Ellesmere Port
- John Walkey - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service The Prince’s Trust Programme Manager Nick Evans - Youth and Community Cohesion Manager for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
The funds will pay for flights, accommodation and equipment.
Each cadet raised £3,250. Once the work is completed the school will be handed over to the village during a celebratory ceremony.
Nick Evans, CFRS head of prevention, has accompanied the group.
He said: “So many people have helped us reach this point and without their generosity we wouldn’t be able to help these school children in Nepal.
“We would like to thank family, relatives, friends, as well as all the partner agencies and colleagues who have supported all the fundraising activities to enable us to raise the money for this trip.
“We will be writing a daily blog while out in Nepal, which will be on our website www.cheshirefire.gov.uk so please take a look and see for yourself some of the photos and experiences that we will have along the journey.”
They flew from Manchester to Kathmandu on Saturday, October 24, before hiking through the Himalayas to the village of Thulodhunga.
The teenagers will complete building work started by villagers.
