OREANDA-NEWS. Sixteen employees from National Grid's office on the Strand have recently completed the Ben Nevis Midnight Challenge to help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The team, along with National Grid colleagues from around the country, helped fundraise over £40,000 for the cancer support charity.

Setting off just before midnight under torch and moonlight, one Saturday earlier this month, the employees climbed the UK's largest mountain to reach the summit in time to see the sunrise over the Western Isles. To climb the 1,344 metre summit, takes approximately 5-6 hours, with the descent taking 2-4 hours.

Over 40 National Grid employees took part from around the country, including Warwick, Solihull, London and Wokingham. Individually they raised more than £26,000 which, with matched funding from National Grid, will rise to around £40,000.

Michelle Lester is a volunteer recruitment adviser for National Grid who helps to support the partnership with Macmillan and encourages staff to get involved in fundraising activities. She said: "We had a fantastic response to the Ben Nevis Midnight Challenge with around 40 colleagues signing up to take part. It was quite a challenge especially at night but there was a real sense of achievement from everyone having conquered the country's highest mountain. The amount of money we've raised is huge and shows how much our employees are committed to helping Macmillan Cancer Support."

Macmillan is National Grid's chosen charity that was voted for by its employees. Macmillan has touched the lives of so many people, and National Grid is proud to be partnering with them for the next two years.