Henry Smith, chief executive of property developer Aitch Group has raised £150,000 for his charity combating knife and gun crime after completing a perilous trek to the highest peak in Antarctica.
Smith, 57, battled temperatures of -55°C and frostbite, just 50 metres from the summit of one of the most extreme peaks in the world, Mount Vinson.
“The most frightening part of the trek was when I almost lost my nose to frostbite,” he said “I thought to myself, not reaching the top would be a disaster. However, with the tremendous support from my team we rallied on, my nose was wrapped up in a buff to get the blood flowing and thankfully we made it.
“Mountaineers have a level of fitness I’ve never experienced and as a novice I struggled and was not prepared for the life-threatening conditions. During the serious ascends I would be soaked with sweat. I used every ounce of energy I had, my legs, shoulders, everything was in pain. The cold, danger and physical exertion along with the mental drainage was exhausting beyond belief.
“On the day of the summit we had a ‘warm day’ of -55°C. My mind was spinning, thinking don’t let the team down, don’t expose your extremities, don’t drop your rucksack, don’t trip over your crampons. I just couldn’t believe how exhausting it was putting one foot in front of the other.
“As we got to the top I could barely see, my glasses were full of ice and I was really concerned about my nose. For a moment, however, I felt so emotional. I’d done what I’d set out to achieve, my emotions were churning and I cried. A combination of relief, stress and euphoria all came together.”
The charity – The Wickers – was set up spring of 2018 and provides young people aged eight to 18 with a safe haven at St Mary of Eton Church, Eastway, in Hackney, E9, offering positive role models, learning opportunities, recreational activities and educational workshops.
To donate, visit Henry Smith’s Just Giving page.
