Well Fancy that – Matthew’s off to Nepal

AN ADVENTUROUS teenager is swapping Saddleworth hills for mountain slopes as he sets off on a three-week charity challenge in Nepal.

Matthew Fancy, 18, is part of a 14-strong team of students travelling out on July 11 to take on a six-day trek of the Helambu Circuit before helping out at Shram Jyoti Public School.

After a day to acclimatise in Kathmandu, the teenagers will launch into their trek, led by a Sherpa, with up to eight hours of walking on some days and reaching a lofty 3690m on the Thadepat Pass.

Then the team will get hands-on helping to build a drainage system or classrooms for the primary school, and could even join in with teaching the 180 pupils.

The trip will be rounded off with sight-seeing and activities chosen by the group when they arrive, with options including a jeep safari, canoeing and elephant washing.

Matthew, a former Greenhead College pupil who hopes to study Chemistry at the University of York from September, said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge and pushing myself.

“It’s a different culture and lifestyle they live so that will be very interesting to see. I’ve done my gold Duke of Edinburgh award but this is the next step up.

“The altitude is a big unknown factor and it will be monsoon season – but it is a good group and I know we’ll enjoy it.”

Inspired by a talk at Uppermill Civic Hall by climbers Paul Braithwaite and Doug Scott, three groups from Greenhead College are taking on the challenge over the summer.

They raised funds themselves for the trip – through events including bag packing, sponsored runs and an abseil – and are in charge of arranging their own accommodation and food.

A rigid kit list has been provided to make sure team members take only the essentials and all the teenagers have had jabs for rabies, typhoid and hepatitis B.

Matthew’s mum Sheila, who runs The Royal Oak Pub at The Heights, above Delph, with husband Michael, said: “It will be a really good life experience for him.

“Everyone is asking for pictures so we’re sending Matthew with his camera and lots of memory cards so he can take plenty to show everyone when he gets back.”