Damian Walters, chief executive of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI), sets off on his voyage to Mount Everest on Wednesday 5th April.

Damian has self-funded his trip but has been raising money for The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity, in the months leading up to the challenge.

The Furniture Makers’ Company organised a bon voyage breakfast at Furniture Makers’ Hall on 30 March for companies that sponsored a patch on Damian’s Himalayan suit and on the silk flag that he will take to the top of the mountain.

On arriving at Kathmandu, Nepal, Damian will spend a few days in the Nepalese capital organising permits and visas, before flying to the Tibetan capital Lhasa on Saturday 8 April.

From there, he will head into Everest base camp in Tibet, China at just under 17,000ft above sea level. The expedition will then work their way up to intermediate base camp (18,000ft) and then onto advance base camp, at 20,000ft, where he’ll spend a few weeks acclimatising to the high altitude.

Before reaching the top, Damian will have to overcome many dangers, including the mountain’s perilous ‘death zone’, which starts at 26,000ft. While in the death zone, he will face high winds, treacherous ledges, an extreme risk of frostbite and a low atmospheric pressure, restricting the body’s oxygen intake by two-thirds.

Damian’s suit and flag sponsors include Cabinet Maker, Chimera Insurance, Classi Seal by Classic Marble, Designer Contracts, Geoflex Shield, HIPPO™, Furniture Village, Instant Print W1, KBB Review, NICEIC, The January Furniture Show, TradePoint and UK Special Risk.

Damian said:

“I want to say a huge thank you to all of the sponsors, particularly my main sponsor Classic Marble, for helping me to raise £30,000 so far. This challenge has taken two years of hard training and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends.”

Ben Burbidge, Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, said:

“We’re deeply indebted to Damian for committing to raise such a substantial sum for the charity. Everyone at The Furniture Makers’ Company wishes him a safe trip. We look forward to hearing about his experience when he touches back down on British soil in June.”

Christopher Hackett, Classic Marble’s managing director, said:

“Classi being the main sponsor for Damian’s expedition up Everest is a privilege for our family business, Classic Marble. Damian has more than his fair share of determination and over the past 10 years we have witnessed first-hand his achievements in the KBB industry. We have no doubt that this venture will be another resounding success and will inspire others. We wish him above everything else a safe return.”

Watch a short video about Damian’s climb up Everest and why he’s supporting The Furniture Makers’ Company https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im8cIFWUJZE.

You can sponsor Damian by going to DamianclimbsEverest or by contacting Richard Ainsworth, fundraising manager at The Furniture Makers’ Company, on 020 7562 8527 or by emailing [email protected].

About The Furniture Makers’ Company

The Furniture Makers’ Company is the British furnishing industry’s charity, which fosters and supports the industry by inspiring excellence, educating for the future and supporting those in need. It encourages the highest standards and best practice in the design, making, marketing and selling of all kinds of furniture and furnishings throughout the UK, recognising quality through the award of its Guild Marks. It supports students and young people with grants, training and mentoring in order to foster talent and safeguard the future of the industry. It provides support and assistance to those in need who are working or have worked in the UK furnishing industry.

For further information, contact George Cooper, marketing and communications manager, on 020 7562 8522 or by emailing [email protected].