Pair trek across Iceland to raise cash for kidney charity (From Watford Observer)

Iceland trek raises nearly £6,000 for National Kidney Federation

4:00pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in News By Amie Mulderrig, Features Writer

Two school friends who met during a PE lesson have had their physical and mental fitness challenged by taking part in a trek through Iceland for charity.

Ella Abraham and Olivia Antoniou, former students from Bushey Meads School, chose to trek through Iceland to raise money for the National Kidney Federation.

Olivia and Ella, both 20, decided to collect cash for the charity as Ella’s mother Glynnis lost both of her kidneys at the age of 16.

Ella, of Garston Road, Watford, said: "Since my mum lost both of her kidneys, she’s had two transplants and had 12 years of dialysis.

"The National Kidney Federation has been really supportive and I wanted to give something back, so when the opportunity of trekking across Iceland came up, I jumped at the chance.

"Olivia had always wanted to do a trek like this as well, so I asked if she was up for it. She had the opportunity of raising money for any charity she wanted, but ended up choosing to support the National Kidney Federation as well."

Prior to their trek, the pair had raised cash for the trip by holding a series of fundraisers including a quiz night at the Three Crowns pub in Bushey.

For their adventure, the duo spent five days at the beginning of July trekking through Iceland, braving temperamental weather conditions, camping outside, experiencing 24-hour daylight and overcoming severe bouts of vertigo.

Thanks to their efforts they managed to raise more than £5,800 for the National Kidney Federation.

Olivia, of Coombe Road, Bushey, said: "It was an absolutely amazing experience and one I wouldn’t change for the world.

"Not only did we manage to raise a huge amount of money for charity, but we got to do something really unusual, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I couldn’t have done it without Ella. We kept each other laughing all the time, even when I fell over and broke my camera.

"Now we’re rallying our friends together for another trek. Nothing’s been decided yet, but watch this space."