Partners and employees of St. James's Place scaled new heights this month, as they took on one of the world's hardest and most demanding of treks, the Everest Basecamp Trek in Nepal, to support the charity 'Supporting Nepal's Children'. The team raised £220,000.

Altitude, extreme and cold weather conditions, demanding terrain, and mental and physical stress were some of the challenges endured by 21 individuals, as they fought their way to complete a 17,500ft sponsored trek of the world's tallest mountain.

The trek which took place over the course of 14 days, saw a team of individuals navigate bridges above torrents of fast-flowing rivers, icy trails and Gorak Shep, where conditions were so cold the inside of windows and water bottles froze solidly overnight.

A year after the first ever successful Everest Basecamp trek in 2012, which raised over £700,000, members of the St. James's Place Community, Hazel Grace, Nadine Phillips along with Roger Owen (who later went on to summit Mount Everest), founded the charity 'Supporting Nepal's Children'.

Set up to initially support the Pangboche School, the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation, has become a significant force in the region. Run by a small group of volunteers, the charity's mission is to enable all Nepali children to benefit from an education and remain part of the local community.

The support of the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation and St. James's Place community has enabled the charity to fund two further vocational centres, helping young people to improve their prospects and learn traditional trades.

The latest trek helped to raise an astounding £220,000 for Supporting Nepal's Children and the work of the St. James's Place Charitable Foundation in the UK, particularly amongst disadvantaged young people, where there is a growing need for support.

Scott Andrews, Williamson Wealth Management, said: "The whole experience was mind-blowing - from the people to the environment and of course being surrounded by the world's tallest mountains. The biggest impact on me personally is from the people of Nepal. They are the most generous people I've met, that could never do enough to help us. For a country and people, that in comparison to the UK, could be perceived as having so much less than others, they are the friendliest and most generous I've met."

Tobias Colton, Tobias Colton Wealth Management, said: "A few of my favourite memories were of the children we gave presents to on the trail and the look of awe on their faces as they watched bubbles float into the sky, or seeing the bounce of a ball immediately causing them to belly laugh like they were laughing for the first time. However, that was probably topped by the day we arrived in Namche when I was with Hazel, one of the Trustees from Supporting Nepal's Children, and was a stark reminder of why we were there. As we walked through the town, numerous people approached Hazel literally stopping her in the street to thank her with such sincere gratitude and warmth as SNC had supported them and their families, sometimes putting their children through school - a truly moving scene."

Jan Jago, a St. James's Place employee and a returning trekker, said: "This country, its people and the difference we can make is an infectious driver to return year on year!"

to support - 'Supporting Nepal's Children'.