NHS doctors and nurses leave for Nepal on a charity mission

London - A team of NHS doctors and nurses are heading off to Nepal on Friday (7 November) to embark on a trekking challenge that will take them from Lukla airport to Everest Base Camp and back.

Raising funds for four different charities, the group have already reached their goal of fundraising £10,000.

The Western Isles Hospital team includes nurses Maggie Maclean and Laura Bathgate, as well as Dr Peter Greenstock. They will also be joined by three mainland doctors – Shannon Cowie, Abigail Gilchrist and Rowan Burns – all of whom previously worked in Stornoway, reports said.

The youngest member of the team is Elizabeth Greenstock, who just recently turned 18.

The group will take on the 11 day trek in aid of four different charities, including Western Isles Kidney Patient Association, MS Society Scotland, Scotland Charity Air Ambulance, and Shout 85258.

The Western Isles Kidney Patient Association provides vital support for kidney patients and their families, offering grants for expenses not covered by the NHS. The charity also helps those who require urgent mainland hospital visits or home adaptations for dialysis treatment, while raising awareness of kidney health across the islands.

The MS Society Scotland funds pioneering research, provides guidance and campaigns for better rights and are for those living with multiple sclerosis. 

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance relies entirely on public donations to keep its life-saving service in the air, responding to around two emergency callouts every day.

Shout 85258 is a free, confidential text service offering round-the-clock mental health support for anyone in the UK who’s struggling to cope.

Some of these charities hold a special place in participants’ hearts, making the challenge even more meaningful and motivating.

After hearing of the local support for Western Isles Kidney Patient Association, kidney donor recipient Finlay Aitchison stepped forward and donated to the team’s fundraiser, making them another step closer to their original goal of £10,000, which they’ve now achieved.

The donation was handed over at Western Isles Hospital on Friday 31 October, along with a further donation from the staff at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar garage.

The expedition will involve an eight-day ascent from Lukla Airport, taking the team to an altitude of 17,598 feet. The descent, by contrast, takes just three days. 

Expedition organiser and lead fundraiser Maggie Maclean said the community support in the lead up to the challenge has been “overwhelming”, with all the local support and generosity which can be seen in their fundraising efforts.

She added how grateful the group are to everyone and they "can’t begin to thank everyone enough for the support they’ve shown".