COMEDIANS SET TO ACHIEVE NEW HEIGHTS OF HILARITY WITH EVEREST GIG

This autumn a team of six comedians will set out to conquer new comedic peaks to raise money for Save the Children and aim to set a new record by performing the world’s highest stand-up gig.

Rhys Darby, Stewart Francis, Craig Campbell, Glenn Wool, Simon Evans and Terry Alderton will be accompanied by 50 comedy fans as they take on the tough 9-day trekking challenge to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Each adrenaline-hungry participant will pledge to raise a minimum of £1000 and all money raised will go to Save the Children’s projects around the world, including Nepal, to provide children with a better start in life.

Following in the footsteps of world-famous adventurers before them, the comic troop will have little chance to catch their breath when they arrive at their destination, 5,365m above sea level, before entertaining their fellow trekkers. The intimate show will take place on 4 October on a purpose-built stage set against the majestic backdrop of Mount Everest. With the comedians performing across two sets, the event will also give much-needed comic relief to any climbers waiting at Base Camp before summiting the world’s highest mountain.

Darby said: "Sometimes in life things land on your plate. I see Everest as a massive steak, it'll be hard to chew but in the end I'll be one of those guys that can say ‘Hey I ate that massive Steak, well at least the base of it. I'll need a hell of a lot more sauce to go any further!’

“I'm very much looking forward to Everest, it's been calling me for a while now. Of course up until recently I've had the phone off the hook. Now it's time to meet my destiny... telling jokes at 5,365 meters above sea level.

“I'm very much looking forward to Everest. Whilst the others are going over their material on route to base camp I shall be searching for signs of Yeti. Also I believe somewhere in the Himalaya is a secret doorway to another dimension. Yes, I should expect that I'll be a very busy man on this expedition. Make sure I'm heavily guarded. I know too much."

As one of the world’s top treks, the journey to Everest Base Camp is not to be taken lightly. The participants will battle overwhelming tiredness, struggle to acclimatise to the high altitude and face night temperatures as low as -10°C as they make their way across picturesque valleys to reach Everest’s south side.

Whilst weather conditions in the mountains are notoriously unpredictable and can change very quickly, the group will leave Kathmandu for the trek into the Nepalese Himalaya on 25 September – the start of the dry season – so the participants will be hoping for clear skies to make the most of the incredible scenery en route.

“Whilst hard-core explorers such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Bear Grylls have famously gone on to conque Mount Everest, just being able to reach Base Camp – which is three times the height of Ben Nevis and a good 500m higher than Mont Blanc – will be no mean feat. The team’s main challenge will be to avoid altitude sickness so the key thing for us will be to ascend gradually and try to stay focused on the end goal,” said Richard Kirtley, the Expedition Leader from Altitude Events International who has been brought in to lead the trek by the event organisers, The Aid Fundraiser.

Although Richard and his expert team are no strangers to world record-breaking events, having previously organised a Twenty20 game of cricket on Everest, one of their biggest challenges will be ensuring the comedians are able to find time within their busy touring schedules over the coming months to start the essential endurance training.

Tanya Steele, Director of Fundraising for Save the Children, added: “We are delighted that Stand Up on Everest has chosen to support Save the Children. We wish the team lots of luck as they bring a touch of humour to the Himalayas whilst highlighting the serious plight of children in Nepal and across the globe, inspiring the British public to help raise vital funds for Save the Children’s work worldwide. You could certainly say the sky’s the limit for the Stand Up on Everest team’s fundraising ambitions!”

Places are being allocated on a first-come first-served basis for those keen to embark on this iconic trek and be part of entertainment history. To sign up to join the comedic mission or to sponsor those involved visit www.standuponeverest.co.uk.

Media Enquiries:

-   Lynsey Devon (Heaven Publicity)  lynsey@heavenpublicity.co.uk / 07717 078862

-   Fay Hoyland (Save the Children) f.hoyland@savethechildren.org.uk / 020 3215 3429 / 07920 878195

Event Enquiries:

-   Jeremy (The Aid Fundraiser) jeremy@standuponeverest.co.uk / 07713 904025

About the Stand Up on Everest fundraising trek:

-   The trekking party will gather in Kathmandu on 24 September and the trip will end on 9 October 2014. The expedition is made up of a 9-day trek to Everest Base Camp followed by the comedy show on day 10 (4 October) and a 3-day trek back to Luklar, returning to Kathmandu on 8 October. 

-   The cost for the 16-day fundraising trek is £2,250 excluding flights and insurance plus a commitment to raise at least £1,000 sponsorship in aid of Save the Children.  A deposit of £450 is required to book space on the trip.

-   The trek is designed to be challenging for those of good health and fitness and is achievable for most people provided they train well in advance. All participants will receive a thorough training guide upon registration and will be invited to join a training weekend in early summer. Accommodation during the trip will consist of 13 nights in teahouses and 3 nights in a hotel in Kathmandu.

-   The event was the brainchild of The Aid Fundraiser who are organising all aspects of the challenge. The expedition will be led by Altitude Events International and assisted by a local support crew provided by Peace Nepal Treks.

-   Full details on the event can be found on www.standuponeverest.co.uk. Follow the group’s progress on Facebook and Twitter.  

About Save the Children:

-   Save the Children works in more than 120 countries worldwide

-   We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential.

-   For more information please visit www.savethechildren.org.uk.

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