Wednesday 14th of October 2009
Record-breaking bingo game
A group of Brits has set its sights on smashing an unlikely record for the world's highest free bingo game.
The team, comprising 24 bingo club employees from across the country, plans to climb Mount Everest next month for an extraordinary free bingo game at 17,500 feet.
Several fitness sessions, from hill-walking to long-distance running, have already been completed in preparation for the gruelling ascent.
And the team members have also practised bingo games on top of some of the UK's tallest structures, including The Gherkin in London and Blackpool Tower.
Everest climb is the height of generosity
It's all part of the bingo club's efforts to raise £1 million this year for the non-profit body Sue Ryder Care, which specialises in providing support to patients with long-term and terminal health problems.
Prior to the Mount Everest adventure, a total of £750,000 had been raised for the charity.
Dominic Harrison, chief executive of the bingo group, paid tribute to the adventurous bingo players.
"I am incredibly proud of every single person who has volunteered to undertake this challenge of a lifetime and even prouder that we'll be raising money for the excellent work of our nominated charity Sue Ryder Care while we're at it," he said. "Good luck to them."
Last month, staff at Buckingham Bingo Huyton embarked on their own hill-climbing challenge.
Huyton bingo club manager David Rhodes and his fellow employees climbed Mount Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales, to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity Breakthrough for Breast Cancer.
