Intrepid graduate claims Kilimanjaro for Taylor Wimpey

Northamptonshire graduate succeeds in challenge of a lifetime thanks to sponsorship from Taylor Wimpey East Midlands.

A university graduate from Northamptonshire has raised £2,700 for charity after scaling one of the highest mountains in the world – with help from leading housebuilder Taylor Wimpey East Midlands.

Ben Cooper (22), of Federation Avenue, Desborough, tested his physical and mental endurance to their limits in a trek to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania along with 36 fellow students from Nottingham University.

Ben, who has just completed a masters degree in civil engineering, completed the challenging expedition in aid of worldwide development charity Childreach International, and was given a huge boost when Taylor Wimpey – the housebuilder behind a number of developments of East Midlands property for sale – donated £1,000 towards his fundraising target.

As a thank-you to his generous sponsor, Ben managed to plant a Taylor Wimpey flag at the summit of the 5,895m mountain!

“I fancied taking on a challenge when I finished university and they don’t come much bigger than climbing Kilimanjaro,” said Ben, whose mother, Lorraine, is Regional Easymover and Part Exchange Manager for Taylor Wimpey, which has East Midlands new homes developments across the region.

“It was an amazing experience and probably the most difficult thing I have ever done, with altitude sickness and exhaustion to contend with.

“We walked through the night to reach the summit early in the morning and it was a pretty emotional moment, although after five solid days of trekking a part of me just wanted to get back down again.

“It’s a brilliant achievement, though, and I’m proud to say I’ve done it.”

After arriving safely home, Ben is now looking forward to heading out to Australia to take up a six-month engineering job with Laing O’Rourke in Sydney. The ambitious graduate will then join infrastructure services business Balfour Beatty for a year back in the UK.

Taylor Wimpey is currently constructing new homes across the East Midlands, including developments in Corby, Stanion and Mawsley Village, near Kettering.

Further information about Taylor Wimpey developments in the region is available at: taylorwimpey.co.uk