Stephen’s Everest Base Camp Challenge

At the heart of this adventure is the opportunity to support three incredible charities. If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so through the links below – every contribution makes a real difference:

• The Christie

• Cheshire Without Abuse

• The Trussell Trust

Quite a few milestones have come my way recently – turning 50 was one of them. And in true “bucket list” fashion, I’m about to tackle one of the biggest challenges of my life: trekking to Everest Base Camp.

On 9 October I’ll be heading to Nepal for 12 days of trekking, covering over 130km and climbing to more than 5,600 metres (around 18,500ft). It’s a trip I’ve long dreamed of, and thanks to a friend who shares the same goal, the “if not now, then when?” moment finally arrived.

The preparation has been no small feat. It’s taken months of training, lifestyle changes, and learning how to face down one of my biggest fears – high bridges (of which there are many on the trek!). The process has reminded me a lot of how I approach business:

• Set a SMART goal with a clear deadline.

• Plan for success. For me, that meant building a training plan, embracing early mornings, and even investing in a treadmill for the office. If you’ve seen me pacing during Teams or Zoom calls, now you know why!

• Execute the plan. Training in all conditions, fitting it around work and family, and pushing through the hard yards that no one but those closest see.

• Evaluate and adjust. Injuries, weather, and setbacks are inevitable. The key is checking progress against the right metrics – whether in business or fitness – and keeping momentum going.

As with business, perseverance is everything. Relentlessly pursuing the end goal is the only way to get there.

This trek is a personal challenge, but I’m also proud to be raising awareness and support for three charities nominated by my colleagues at mlplaw: The Christie, Cheshire Without Abuse, and The Trussell Trust. Their work impacts lives every single day, and I hope my journey can, in a small way, contribute to that.

You can follow along with my progress on Instagram at @attreeclimbs. And all being well, in just a few weeks’ time I’ll be sharing a photo from the base of the highest peak on earth – standing taller than anywhere else outside of three other continents.

Thank you to my friends, family, and colleagues (especially those who’ve had to listen to me say “Did you know I’m going to Everest?” for the last year). The countdown is on – see you at the top!