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John Smeaton Community College: Cleaner prepares for Everest adventure
Cleaning toilets may not be the most obvious route to climbing the highest mountain in the world.
But Adam Thomas is getting down and dirty as a cleaner at John Smeaton Community College where he studies as he tries to finance his trek up the slopes of the 29,035ft (8,850 metres) high Mount Everest.
The 17-year-old sets off for Nepal in the Himalayas on August 1 as part of an Army Cadet expedition.
In between studying and working Adam, who lives with mum Jean, 46, and dad Ian, 44, is eating as much meat as he can to bulk up before the month-long adventure.
He said: "I'm gong to stock up on a lot of steak and kebab meat, which I know doesn't sound too healthy, but we've been told we're not going to get a lot of meat while we're out there.
"They've told us we will lose a lot of weight, so we've been told to put as much on as we can."
Adam is a corporal in the Royal Logistic Corps (Seacroft Detachment) and was selected with 12 other young people by the Army Cadets Humberside & South Yorkshire for the climb.
He had to raise 1,200 and has paid for most of his kit while working as a cleaner at John Smeaton Community College, where he is studying for geography A-level, history AS-level and a national certificate of business.
Adam said: "I've been working for Mitie as a cleaner since February. If I'm cleaning I finish college at 3pm then work through till 6pm and jog home as part of my training.
"My mum's held raffles to raise money and the Tog24 shop in Heckmondwike donated 130 worth of equipment.
"I've still got to raise enough money for a Gore-Tex Four Seasons jacket and a sleeping bag, but I'm pretty much there. I'd like to thank everybody who's sponsored me."
It was touch and go for sponsorship right up to the start of this month.
Only when Cross Gates-based Raine & Horne estate agents stumped up the last 600 did Adam know he was definitely off.
The teenager said: "We're going up as far as the base camp, which is about 5,400m (17,500ft), so a lot of it will be about endurance.
"It's a one-in-a-lifetime experience, it'll boost my confidence and hopefully I'll be able to pass on my experiences to other students."
Adam is due back in school on September 2, just a day after he returns.
* If you would like to help Adam buy his last pieces of kit, pleease call the college's learning and research centre manager, Tony Jones, on (0113) 3368363.
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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