By Chris Hardy

Monsterski 2007 has been completed and former Montrose Academy pupils Mike and Nick Laver have raised nearly £26,000 for charity.

The brothers skied over 188,000 vertical feet over the course of six days in the Rockies, the equivalent of a Mount Everest every day.

“It was a fantastic experience and one that I will treasure,” said Mike, a serving RAF helicopter pilot who undertook the ski challenge to raise money for the Armed Forces’ multiple sclerosis charity following his own recent diagnosis.

“The money we have raised will do so much good for MS sufferers. We have to thank each and every one of those who donated so generously and had the confidence in us to complete our challenge.

“It really spurred us on.”

While the first three days brought poor weather, avalanches and landslides, Mike and Nick skied the last three in glorious sunshine and on some of the best snow available.

Mike and Nick’s success has led to a plan by the national MS Trust to run a similar challenge next year. After their successful Monsterski, Mike and Nick approached the charity with a view to taking the event forward as one of its annual fund-raising events.

“They were delighted to do it and have arranged for a group of 40 ski-mad fund-raisers to ski the 150,000 vertical feet target that we set and managed to exceedin six different resorts in Colorado in January, 2008, skiing Beaver Creek, Vail, Copper, Breckenridge, Keystone and Winter Park,” said Mike.

“They have been inundated with people registering to take part and have been sending out the paperwork to let people start collecting sponsorship. Anyone who fancies a challenge of a lifetime, click on monsterski 2008 where you can register to take part and to receive more information.”