The Keswick and Coventry-based mountaineer, Mark Wood and his Snowball Expeditions made it to Everest base camp, stopping off at a Buddhist monastery on the way. Snowball has been able to give a Nepalese school a big boost thanks to teaching aids delivered during their visit. The expedition was also sponsored by Keswick to represent them while on expedition, Keswick being the adventure capital of England.

Explorer Mark and Snowball Expedition's photographer and guide Jim Davis from Winscales, Workington, have passed on huge thank you on behalf of the teachers, pupils and parents of Monjo School, Nepal, to which all the West Cumbrian sponsors donated the much-needed equipment.

Said Jim: "The expedition was a wonderful experience and a great success. After flying from Kathmandu to Lukla the team began the 120-mile high-altitude trek to Everest Base Camp, stopping on their way to deliver the goods to the school.

"The kids were so grateful for all the donations, including laptop computers, sports kit, boxes of pencils and an inscribed school bell."

The team members themselves also presented gifts and educational equipment to the school. Jim added: "The principal of the school, Ganjo Raithe, was overwhelmed and could not thank us enough. In the evening using a laptop computer and the digital projector which was donated by Gen II, as the result of an appeal by The Whitehaven Guide, we put on a film show for the teachers, pupils, parents and many villagers in a packed classroom, using a makeshift screen.

Teacher Mingma said: "The children and many adults had never seen a television and were amazed with the large scale visual imagery, this will be a fantastic teaching aid for the school, please pass on our gratitude and appreciation to the people who donated all of this equipment".

As the team left to continue its epic journey to Everest Base Camp, the children made a presentation of their own, serving milk tea and home-made biscuits and presenting the whole team with white silk scarves, wishing them good fortune on their way. The expedition itself trekked through the mountain villagers meeting the people and staying the night at Tengboche Buddhist Monastery.

Eight days later, when they reached Base Camp, at 5,365 metres high, they were all totally spent, but none of the team suffered any altitude sickness thanks to experienced Himalayan guides who set the pace.

Jim, a Liverpudlian by birth, taught the Nepalese a few words of his native scouse added: "I must say a big thanks to the porters for helping carrying gear; I would have run out of puff without their help!"

"We are planning to run the expedition for the next three years and are already seeking sponsors, so if anyone interest please contact me on tel: 01900 68187 or at jimdavis900@btopenworld.com, said Jim.

Among those who helped make it all possible, were: Steve Adair at Eclipse Leisure, Workington, who gave a brand new laptop; Dave Bowden of Cumbrian Re-cycling Lillyhall, who donated three reconditioned Laptops; GEN II, who gave a digital projector; Paul McGlennon at Sportzone Maryport, who donated sports kit;  Northwest Cumbria UFO Research and Investigator Sharon Larkin who gave a brass bell for the school;  The Derwent and Cumberland Pencil Factory, Lillyhall whose Jackie Bell organised a donation of pencils; John Stobbart, of Stobbart's Civil Engineers, who paid the cargo and shipping costs from the UK to Nepal and Nichol Signs, Carlisle, who engraved the bell.