A Nairn man who works for Gala Coral, Ewen Macgregor, was one of the 25 hardy bingo players who helped Gala raise over ￡100,000 for the charity organization, Sue Ryder Care.  The group helped the fundraising efforts by playing a world record breaking game of bingo – at the Mt. Everest basecamp, 17,500 ft above sea level.  As the world’s highest bingo game, the efforts will certainly go down in history for bingo lovers.

The entire team was comprised of Gala Coral staff members who had been training for the event since last year.  Each year, the company tries to come up with new and creative ways to raise funds for their chosen charitable organization.

Sue Ryder Care executive Paul Woodward said, “This was a truly fantastic endeavor, firstly in completing the trek and in the tremendous amount of money that has been raised, and which will go a long way in supporting our work in caring for people living with conditions including cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis and brain injury.”

In an interview with The Press and Journal, Macgregor described the experience.

“Despite all the hardships we endured on the way to Everest basecamp, the trek was a once in a lifetime challenge and it’s great to finally be able to say that I’ve trekked to the top of the world, set a new record for Britain’s favorite game and helped raise more than £100,000 for Sue Ryder Care.

The other trekkers at basecamp simply couldn’t believe it when we started pulling out the calling cards, dabbers and bingo balls at 17,500 ft.  I’m sure they thought we had altitude sickness.  But the support, cameraderie and cheers that erupted across basecamp when we broke the record is a moment that I will never forget.”