In Jo’s own words:

“I won’t pretend it was easy — it was the hardest thing I have ever done, mentally and physically. On summit day, my breath shortened with every step and my lungs felt impossibly small at that altitude. There were moments when I truly wasn’t sure I could keep going.

But I thought about the children. I thought about all of you who had donated and were rooting for us from home. That kept me moving.

What made reaching Lenana Peak truly unforgettable was doing it alongside my Dad — at his age, making it to 4,985 metres is nothing short of remarkable. It was joyous and emotional all at once. A moment I will carry with me forever.

After the descent — and a good deal of recovery — I can look back on this with enormous pride. Thank you to every single person who donated. I carried your energy up that mountain, and at the summit, standing in the snow, I felt a peace I have rarely known.

This was for the children. Always.”

Jocasta Fay, Trustee, EKO