We made it - have a look at some of our photos of the trek!

The air was thin; the snow was deep but the weather and views were spectacular.

Thank you for your support!

The team - Liz McLoughlin, Fiona Lobley, Richard and Sue Farr, Charles Higgins and Anthony Tubbs.

The hike is over 3 days starting from Kolm Saigurn a height of 1598 m (5,273 ft) and climb up to the Naturfeundehaus Neubau 2175 m (7,177 ft) hut where we spend the first night. Day 2 we climb to the summit Hoher Sonniblick 3,105 m (10,246 ft) which was the highest weather station in the world (still highest in the Alps). We spend the night on the summit before descending back down via the via glacier route (we did!) to where we started.

Anthony and Sarah Tubbs had a baby boy last year who was born with a rare chromosome disorder affecting fewer than 1 in 50,000 babies (around 12 babies per year born in the UK - with males accounting for just a third of those). Austen is nearly one now.

We asked Anthony to name the charity Austen could benefit most from and he has chosen 'Tabithas Toys' which is a local charity based in County Durham, set up in memory of Tabitha by her parents after they saw how beneficial this equipment was for their daughter. Tabitha was also born with a rare genetic disorder.

Tabithas Toys offers a loan service of sensory toys and equipment (ones with flashing or bright lights, noisy, sparkly or 'nice to feel' etc) to children who are disabled and have complex needs. The children take great pleasure from sensory toys, such as bubble lamps, ball pools and fibre optics. A lot of these toys are very expensive and are out of the financial reach of many. Many parents and carers cannot take their children to sensory rooms in sports centres or schools as the children are often too poorly, transport maybe a problem and some children may need the equipment at special times that suit them - like three o’clock in the morning - as many have poor sleep patterns. The charity is able to provide this essential equipment to these families, allowing the children have them whenever they are required, at home or out and about.

Further information about the charity can be found at the link below

http://www.tabithastoys.org/?page_id=2

We have set up a Just Giving Page for our trek and would appreciate all donations to this worthy cause.

http://www.justgiving.com/rauris-trek