A back-breaking trek to the summit of South East Asia’s highest mountain, followed by a 140 km cycle through rainforests and white water rafting along raging rivers was not enough to dampen the spirits of local ladies Tina Harrop and Kelly Truscott, during a recent charity fundraising trip to Borneo. 

 

The two PiMS Workspace employees from Gosport already have plans for further adventures after completing the challenge to raise £10,000 for Naomi House and The Alzheimer’s Society. Kelly explains: 

 

“It was an unforgettable experience, but more physically demanding than I could have imagined. Coming down the mountain was just as hard as climbing up it. The slopes were so steep my knees gave way and I had to crawl the last two kilometers. But we were determined to finish. I always thought I was the type to give up when the going got really tough, but this experience showed me how strong I can be (of course it helps that I’m extremely competitive).” 

 

This grueling triathlon was the culmination of over 150 fundraising events arranged by the girls over 18 months. Unfortunately the third member of their dedicated team – Tina Pack – was forced to pull out and fly back to the UK just five hours after landing in Borneo, when news of a family bereavement reached her. 

 

Days after returning home the three have already decided to start working towards a new and equally extreme challenge: 

 

“Missing out on this experience after all her hard work has made Tina [Pack] more determined than ever to take on another,” adds Kelly. “We’re thinking of joining her on a 400km charity cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia next - as soon as our legs have recovered!’