Unfortunately Phil's trip got off to the worst possible start, losing four days after arrival in Nepal to a stomach bug, leaving the entire trip in jeopardy for him. But this is where his audio crew's sense of dedication and unwillingness to be beaten came to the fore - he wasn't about to let a bout of illness stop him. After racing against time to catch up with the rest of the trek, he met them at Island Peak Base Camp and was the first to the summit.
"It was the hardest journey of my life!" says Down. "But the thought of letting down all those that had been kind enough to sponsor me and completing the mission for Cancer Research kept me going. It was an incredible journey."
(Jim Evans)
