Essex

First East England employee raises £4k for charity in Peru trip

Chelmsford marketing assistant hiked Inca trail for four days with injury

A marketing assistant from Essex braved a recent injury to raise almost £4,000 for charity, trekking through the mountains of Peru.

James Chesters, who works for First East England in Chelmsford, injured his foot just days before he was due to depart for his hike along the Inca trail " but was determined not to let it stop him.

He said: "I signed up for the trip to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, and there was no way I was letting any stupid injury stopping me from going or completing the trail.'

The demanding journey took James across steep and remote mountain trails, up to an elevation of 4,200m on Dead Womans Pass. After four days of walking and camping through jungle-cloaked peaks, Inca temples and snow-capped mountains, the journey reached the legendary city of Machu Picchu.

"Because of the altitude, it was very tough going at times " I was very lucky that I didnt suffer noticeably from altitude sickness, other than headaches and shortness of breath at times, but some people on the trip were quite ill " even those who were very athletic.

"Although with my injury it was very hard work, especially with the uneven stone steps, I knew that it was nothing compared to the efforts of people living with cancer every day' James said.

James says he was bowled over when First Groups Charity and Sponsorship committee gave him a cheque for £1,500 towards his £3,300 fundraising target.

He said: "They must receive so many requests like mine, every month " I was very grateful to them for giving me such a large sum of money.

"Together with my own fundraising and the sponsorship from First my initial target of £3,300 was not only been reached, but exceeded.'

James, 28, signed up to the 10-day trek as part of Macmillan's Peru Hiking Challenge in memory of his aunt.

Margie Frankham, a retired schoolteacher from Grays, died of cancer in December 2007.

James said "Macmillan do great work, and my aunt spoke of the Macmillan nurses as if they were saints to her; I cant think of a better tribute to her memory. It was very emotional for everyone on the trip when we reached Inti Punku " the sun gate " above Machu Picchu, as we remembered all the people we were doing the trip for.'

In the UK one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and over a million people are currently living with cancer. Macmillan is a UK charity providing the expert care and practical and emotional support which is changing the lives of people living with cancer today.

Money raised by James will be used to help fund specialist Macmillan nurses and doctors who deliver the best in cancer care, most vitally needed cancer care centres and give financial help to those who need it most.

Anyone wishing to donate money to James for Macmillan Cancer Support can still do so online at www.justgiving.com/jameschesters.