Sight Savers International teamed up with Global Challenge UK to stage the Sight Savers International Mountain Challenge.

The Challenge was for each team to raise at least £5,000 for Sight Savers work around the world restoring sight and preventing needless blindness. In addition the teams had to climb three impressive mountains; Stob Ban in Scotland, Helvellyn in the Lake District and Snowdon in North Wales.

In total 25 teams took part in the event on 26th and 27th July 2003. Of these 23 were recruited from Specsavers, Sightsavers corporate partner.

The event had been six months in the planning and was a tremendous success raising in excess of £120,000 before Gift Aid with one team alone raising £14,000.

Sight Savers work is important because, as well as providing treatment that can help to restore sight, they also assist with the rehabilitation of those who are irreversibly blind - thereby helping them to make a better future for themselves.

The Mountain Challenge was conceived, planned and managed by Global Challenge UK, specialists in the field of outdoor events designed to be used by charities to raise funds for their work.

Russell Richards, Head of Community Fundraising at Sight Savers said:

"As a result of the event I am confident that all the Specsavers staff that took part will continue to support Sight Savers in the coming months and years. I for one, hope we can do many more events with you and your team.

Thank you also on behalf of the many thousands of people suffering needlessly from eye conditions in some of the world's poorest communities - your support will change their lives. Just as I am sure that those who took part in the challenge had a life changing experience."