Flow Group Sponsors Cadet 150 Himalaya Expedition 2010
Officers, Instructors and Cadets from all three services; the Sea Cadets, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps, across Yorkshire and the Humber, are preparing for an experience of a lifetime.
The team, including Bombardier Hannah Snell, will depart in late July for a four week trekking expedition to a little known or explored part of the Indian Himalaya, known as the Himachal Pradesh. Here they will spend three weeks trekking in an extremely remote part of the Himalaya, far from the tourist trails most commonly associated with this area.
Himachal Pradesh extends from the plains of Punjab, north of Delhi, to the high crest of the Himalaya and includes some of the finest trekking in India. After a fascinating train ride from Delhi to the British Raj hill station of Shimla (Simla), they will drive on the old Hindustan to Tibet road, through forest, rice fields and apple orchards, to the remote district of Kinnaur to begin their adventure in Kafnoo. This major watershed crossing is part of an ancient trading link between Kinnaur and Spiti and is still used by the nomadic Gaddi herdsmen who travel widely throughout these Himalayan foothills. They will then carry on to climb Kanamo, which at an altitude of 5974 metres, is on a par with the peak the 2008 expedition gained close to Mount Everest. The team will also visit some of Spiti’s ancient monasteries and villages before taking to the road again for our return journey to Delhi. On completion of the trek the team will have the opportunity to visit the famous Red Fort and the Taj Mahal
They have all been busy researching the Himalaya and the environs to assist them on the trek. As part of their training they have carried out a series of tough and testing weekends and over Easter this year will complete five testing days in the High Pennines.
One of the team members, Bombardier Hannah Snell a 16 year old Army cadet at Kirton Lindsey raised the funds required for the expedition by completing a sponsored parachute jump, sponsored walks and bag packing at local supermarkets, and, importantly has been sponsored to the tune of £500 by Shipham Valves of Hawthorne Avenue, Hull, who are part of the Flow Group of companies.
She was presented with a cheque by the Chief Executive of the Flow Group, Mr Mark Ansell, accompanied by Mr John Wall, the Managing Director and Mr Alan Guest, the Finance Director, all this brought about as Hannah’s aunt, Karen Medlam works at Shiphams and persuaded the Managing Director that it was an excellent idea to sponsor a worthy cadet. The Flow Group is already an active sponsor of local and national worthy causes.
Hannah, from Hibaldstow, near Brigg, already a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award holder says, “Getting the chance to go to the Himalaya has been a life long ambition and this trip has made my dream come true.” She has been in serious training and has been hiking around the countryside, for what she knows will be a tough challenge.
The expedition is being supported by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber, together with the Yorkshire Cadet Trust, and Colonel David Fuller, Commandant said “I am delighted that Shipham Valves has sponsored one of our outstanding cadets. Hannah has shown that she has the ability and determination to succeed and the fact that she has been selected from over sixty nominations for the team has proved she really has got what it takes. This year is special for all three cadet forces as we are celebrating our 150th anniversary and this expedition is the Flagship event for cadets from Yorkshire and the Humber. I would like to thank Mr Ansell and his staff for their most generous support and am sure that Hannah will keep them informed of her progress”.
