AN ARCHITECTURE practice has raced nine other teams to the top of a mountain.

Basingstoke-based Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt raced to the top of Mount Snowdon on Sunday, July 8, to raise money for leading spinal cord injury charity, Back Up.

The challenge, organised annually by Back Up, involves teams of up to 16 people and one wheelchair user, pushing, pulling, climbing and wheeling to the 3,500ft summit of the mountain in Wales.

The architects were joined by Tadley resident Paula Clarke who was diagnosed with a tumour inside her spinal cord in February 2016.

After undergoing a nine-hour operation to remove the tumour, she was initially left without any feeling below the waist and with the fear that she may never walk again.

Paula said: “Taking on The Snowdon Push was both a physical and emotional challenge, as five years ago, I summited the mountain myself to raise money for charity.”

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt was first introduced to Back Up by one of its clients, who is living with a spinal cord injury resulting from a very rare infection.

Adam Lansdown-Bridge, a senior architect at the practice said: “Jo put us in touch with Back Up and before we knew it we were signed up for the challenge. We were hoping to raise £3k but we managed to raise over £8k and received the Top Fundraiser Award.”

Back Up offer wheelchair skills training, an accredited mentoring service, proactive telephone support, life skills and activity courses, and support returning to work or education. The charity also offers support to family members, and they are the only UK charity with dedicated services for children and young people with a spinal cord injury.

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt are participating in a number of events throughout the year to raise money for Back Up. Dominic Gaunt, a director of the practice, will be swimming to the Isle of Wight later this month and others from the practice have signed up for the Prudential Ride, a 100-mile cycle from London to Surrey and back.