Two Howarth Timber & Building Supplies employees have scaled the heights of Vietnam’s tallest mountain to raise more than £7,000 for the company’s charity ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’, which helps make dreams come true for children with life-limiting conditions.

Howarth’s north-west regional manager Jason Rothwell, and plumbing and heating manager Stuart Badley, who’s based at the company’s Rochdale branch, climbed 3,143m to the top of Mt Fansipan in the north of the country. It’s an achievement classed as more technically difficult than conquering Everest’s base camp or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

“The conditions were extreme and the weather was hot and muggy, which made it all very difficult,” said Mr Badley. “It was physically every demanding.”

But having completing the trek the heights, their task was not complete. The two men then took part in project work at an orphanage in Ba Vi, helping clean and paint four rooms. They also played games with the children and donated toys. “It was an extremely emotional experience – rewarding, but quite tough,” said Mr Badley.

Previously, Mr Rothwell has raised money for Howarth’s charity by walking the Great Wall of China, and Mr Badley’s fund-raising is far from over, too. “I have just signed up to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats next year, so after a week’s rest it’s back to a rigorous training regime!”

Donations can still be made to the Howarth Timber Mt Fansipan venture by visiting www.justgiving.com/howarth-timber.