Summit Day
Reflective words from Paul
"We're about to depart for our final target, the summit of Kalapattar. Woke at 6am, had first reasonable sleep in a week as the temperature in the rooms was only just below freezing. Our fears have come to pass and the weather window has closed, bringing a snow blizzard and freezing temperatures. With views from the summit obscured there is a momentary discussion on whether to go for it. I guess the question had to be asked, but in the spirit of this team we are all determined to reach our final goal. It's a tough slog up and at points the snow laden wind drops the temperature below -20. But we all feel fit and make it to the top in under 90 minutes. Val forecast 2 and a half hours!
Great elation at the top, our goal complete. Kalapattar may not be the worlds highest peak, but it was a challenge we faced as a team. There was never a cross word and we worked for each other all the way. If you've read 'High Crimes' then something a few Everest teams could learn from. These team challenges reflect how people approach all aspects of life including business. It can be for the individual or for the whole.
My thanks go to Matt Cooper for his dream and belief that challenge in all it's forms lifts the soul, BT and Exodus for their unwavering support, to Duncan and all at One for the belief business and adventure can change lives, for my colleagues at Alquity for their forbearance for me to complete this adventure when we have so many other challenges, for those who sponsored us and helped transform lives, and for our great support team at Base Camp in Holborn. A great tonic as all of us at One and Alquity face the coming year with tough business targets, numbers of lives to transform and another physical adventure that will surely come. And finally just for you Dunc - "there are valley people and mountain people, and today we proved we are truly all mountain people".
About the Author
I guess I’m ‘Little Miss Everything’, if you need to know something, come to Nikki. I have a wide range of responsibilities ranging from donor communications, case studies, to supporting the marketing team on various campaigns/projects. Everyday the team have me doing weird and wonderful things.
Duncan, being an old friend, asked me to come and work for him for just one day a week, he was drowning in admin and needed saving. He’s a trickster though, because he knows that once you enter the family of One, you are hooked and one day a week soon becomes a full time living, breathing passion.
Three years on, Global Ethics isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. From the pride you feel when you hear what you have achieved for thousands of beautiful children in Africa, to the late night emails that the team send while sitting there at 10pm working like a trojan with a glass of wine, to the belly laughs we have in the office. I’m very fortune to work with such an inspiring, passionate bunch of people, who really are my One family.
