The original vacuum flask pioneer, Leeds-based Thermos, is celebrating its 120th anniversary by partnering with an expedition to the top of Mount Everest.
Project Uprising will see 12 everyday athletes, including survivors of childhood abuse, attempt to climb Mount Everest to raise money for the NSPCC. The attempt will take two months, with the team currently in Scotland training, and the attempt is being filmed by the BBC.
Keeping warm and hydrated on the climb will be key, so the team will be taking Thermos bottles and flasks to help them on their journey. The company has also donated towards the funding of the expedition.
Thermos has a strong connection with Everest, having been part of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic climb, when he was the first person to reach the 29,031 ft summit in May 1953. Sir Hillary was famously welcomed down to a spot on the South Col of the mountain by his compatriot George Lowe who was waiting with a Thermos of hot tomato soup.
Nick Kime, managing director at Thermos, said: “Being involved in this unbelievable challenge in our 120th year felt like it was meant to be. With our long connection with mountaineers and explorers, and our presence at the most historic climb of Everest, to know we can recreate that moment from 1953 and that our products will be helping to look after people at the highest point on the earth is quite humbling. Team Uprising are doing an extremely brave thing to raise much needed funds for a very worthy cause and we wish them all the luck in the world. As Edmund Hillary famously said, ‘It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.’”
Giles Moffatt, the group leader for Project Uprising, added: “Thermos is iconic and we are very grateful for their support. We trained in the Scottish Highlands in February and were revived daily by piping hot food in icy conditions. We will be using the latest flasks on Everest, where performance and low weight are both essential.”
