Mail by Runner 158: 10,000 metres, one week, and a big heart

This week we've got a pretty special story to share.

Over the past week, Gus Edmonds set himself a personal challenge inspired by his time trekking in Nepal earlier this year and Michael Gill's biography of Sir Ed. In just seven days, he climbed more than 10,000 vertical metres—beyond the height of Everest (8,848 m)—right here at home. Along the way, he raised over $1,200 in support of the Himalayan Trust.

It’s an incredible effort, and a reminder that support for the Trust shows up in all sorts of ways. For Gus, it was putting one foot in front of the other, again and again, to honour the people and places that left a lasting impression on him.

What we love most about challenges like this isn’t just the numbers (impressive as they are), but the spirit behind them. Gus didn’t wait for a big event or a formal campaign. He simply decided to do something meaningful, in his own way.

We’re hugely grateful, Gus. Thank you for the effort, the energy, and the inspiration.

And to everyone reading: if Gus’s story sparks an idea of your own, know that there’s no “right” way to get involved. Big or small, solo or shared, every step forward helps keep the work going in the Himalayas.