Making a molehill of a tax mountain

David, a partner at Gortons accountants in Blackburn Street, Radcliffe, met some of the team while they were training for their challenge in Glencoe, Scotland. …

He immediately volunteered his services to the academics, offering to deal with complex administration and financial planning involved in running the expedition.

David said: "They are an amazing group with fabulous skills in medicine and mountaineering, but they had no experience of what you need to stop tax and accounts becoming a problem." …

The expedition is currently in Tibet climbing Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. It is a trial for the real thing in March, 2007, when more than 200 trekkers will assemble at Everest base camp. The team plans to conquer the summit, taking an exercise bike 23,000ft up the Everest glacier field in the process.

Nigel McFarlane, 'The Bolton News'