Alnwick fundraiser 'climbs' Mount Everest in her own home to support NHS

Hayley Quigg spent more than 19 hours continually going up and down the stairs of her Alnwick home until she reached the equivalent 29,029ft height of the world’s largest peak.

The ultra-marathon competitor decided to raise cash for the nationwide NHS Heroes appeal after local friend Colette Rowland, who works for the NHS in administration, became a suspected victim of covid-19 before thankfully recovering.

Hayley, 29, said: “It brought it home to me just how close to home the coronavirus was as up until then it just seemed to be a far away problem.

Hayley Quigg marks off another lap of her staircase during her fundraising marathon.

“She ended up in hospital although thankfully she has recovered from what she had.

“It all motivated me to use all the fitness I do to come up with an idea for raising money for the NHS Heroes.

“I found out that a couple of people had completed the Everest challenge on their staircases and decided I would give it a go.

“We measured our staircase and calculated that I would have to go up 2,949 times and down the same number to reach its height.”

Hayley Quigg takes a well-earned bath after climbing the equivalent height of Mount Everest in her own home.

Beginning at 6am and stopping only for toilet breaks, Hayley completed her challenge in 19 hours and 17 minutes.

Hayley, who is training to be vet at London’s Royal Veterinary College, was aided by husband Simeon Quigg, 29, a research scientist, who supplied her with food during her quest.

She was “overwhelmed” too by the support she received on the day from family and friends, adding: “I would not have been able to do it without their encouragement.”

Hayley also formed a close bond with the pencil she used to mark off each lap on a chart at the bottom of the staircase.

She joked: “We have been through so much together. It was emotional.”

After initially pledging £105 herself by asking people to support her quest on Facebook for £1 a “like”, friends started offering donations themselves with the current total now standing at £950.

Further pledges can made at her JustGiving page called Hayley’s Stairway to Everest.

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