Moy Park tackles North Africa’s highest mountain!

A team of adventurous employees from Moy Park, one of the UK & Europe's leading food companies, is taking on the challenge of a lifetime this October when they will trek to the top of North Africa's highest mountain in aid of Farm Africa. The Moy Park team will be taking on Mount Toubkal in Morocco to raise funds for Farm Africa, a charity which is tackling the roots of hunger in rural Africa by giving African farmers the skills and tools they need to feed Africa's people. Fundraising for worthy causes is nothing new for Northern Ireland's largest food company. Last year its Chief Executive, Nigel Dunlop, joined a team of UK food executives in a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Farm Africa. Moy Park is now thrilled to be furthering its support of Farm Africa by committing a whole team of its employees for the charity's latest mountaineering challenge. The three day trek to the summit, which stands at 4167 metres above sea level, will present a hugely demanding challenge for the team. They will set out from a remote village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and reaching the summit will test their endurance to the limit. Getting to the top of Toubkal is the equivalent of scaling Europe's tallest building, The Shard in London, thirteen and a half times. The team will also have to cope with reduced oxygen and severe fatigue as they near the summit. Welcoming the announcement of the challenge Caolon Brady, one of the climbers and Business Unit Leader, Moy Park Craigavon said: "The team at Moy Park is thrilled to be involved with such a worthy cause. This year's Farm Africa mountaineering challenge, to climb to the summit of Toubkal, will give our team members the opportunity to get involved in something we have never attempted before. Climbing North Africa's highest peak will be a real test of our stamina and team work, but we are all extremely excited about taking on the challenge. "Moy Park plays an active role in communities home and abroad and we work with a range of charities, community and sports organisations. Farm Africa aims to give farmers in rural African communities the opportunity to learn skills to provide food for local people - and as a leading player in the agri-food sector, fundraising for Farm Africa is a perfect fit for Moy Park. We are confident that with the continued support of our friends, colleagues and local communities we will reach, and hopefully exceed, our fundraising target." The Moy Park team will be joined for the challenge by teams from the UK Food Sector in a strong demonstration of the sector's support for smallholder farmers in Africa. They will be sending live updates and photos from the mountain and it will be possible to follow the team's progress in real time on Twitter via the hashtag #takeontoubkal. Farm Africa is hugely excited that Moy Park is taking on the Toubkal challenge. Looking forward to the climb the charity's Head of Community and Events Fundraising, Cathy Whiteman, said: "We are thrilled that Moy Park is continuing its support for Farm Africa by taking on Mount Toubkal this year. The funds they raise will help us continue striving towards our vision of a prosperous rural Africa, free from hunger. It will be a hugely challenging trek and we hope that people dig deep to show their support for all the hard work and sore muscles that the team will have to go through!" The Moy Park team: James Colley, Factory Manager, Anwick Susan Baird, Health & Safety Assistant, Dungannon Caolon Brady, Business Unit Leader, Craigavon Chris Boardman, Business Unit Leader, Grantham Photos of all the Moy Park trekkers are available on request. The itinerary: Day 1 - Thursday 18 October: Depart London Heathrow. Arrive Marrakesh. Day 2 - Friday 19: Drive to Imlil village, commence trek. Camp overnight. Day 3 - Saturday 20: Climb to the summit. Then start descent. Camp overnight. Day 4 - Sunday 21: Descend to Imlil, and drive to Marrakesh. Day 5 - Monday 22: Return to London. If you would like to support the team please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/moyparktakesontoubkal Follow team updates on Twitter: #takeontoubkal