Survivors take on epic challenge

A COURAGEOUS group of child abuse survivors have been trekking the world’s highest mountain to raise awareness and funds for the NSPCC.

Team Uprising was set up by Giles Moffatt, a survivor of physical abuse as a young boy at Edinburgh Academy’s boarding school, because he wanted to turn his negative childhood experiences into something positive.

Giles has always wanted to climb Everest and decided he would ‘give it a go’ for the NSPCC, and some fellow survivors said they would like to join him.

The group of 12 men and women travelled to Nepal at the end of March to trek 150-km at ultrahigh altitude, and reached Everest Base Camp on April 12.

As the rest of the group made their descent from Base Camp, Giles and his friend Andy Leslie continued through the heart of the Himalayas with the aim of reaching Everest’s summit by the end of May.

The group aims to raise thousands of pounds to support the charity’s work, including its counselling service Childline, adult Helpline for reporting concerns about a child and schools educational programme Speak out Stay safe, to support children and help prevent child abuse and neglect.

Speaking from the mountain, Giles, 51, said: “We want to use our own negative childhood experiences to help other children who have been abused, and those who may be at risk, and raise awareness of the wide-ranging and long-lasting impact of childhood abuse.

“The highlight of this expedition for me has been having the other guys here. Sitting in the shadow of Everest is intimidating, but I feel like I have been carried here by the guys. I would be much more scared without them.

“Because of my childhood experiences I find the world quite hostile and confusing but up here it’s more straightforward. The threats from the weather, such as snow and ice, are predictable.

“This trip is part-fundraising, part-therapy. Being surrounded by great people and living in the moment is hugely beneficial. Many of the survivors hope to come down as different people.”

To donate go to justgiving.com/ team/uprising