Stars Appeal trek 'tough but exhilarating' say trekkers
34 people visited the lost city of Teyuna in Colombia
A group of hikers who trekked through the South American rainforest for the Stars Appeal have told Greatest Hits Radio that it was a tough but exhilarating experience.
34 people from Salisbury walked in heat, humidity and rain to visit the lost city of Teyuna in Colombia to raise crucial funding for Salisbury District Hospital.
It's hoped that the trek will raise as much as £80,000 for the charity.
Dr Helena McKeown and Colin Ford were among the group and have shared their experiences with us.
'We were walking against a river'
Colin, who took part in the previous Stars Appeal trek in Jordan, said the weather made the early going tricky.
"The conditions made it extremely tough. The first 48 hours we had rain and according to our Columbian guides ahead and that rain like it for a year.
"It made the trek in very tough, very slippery under foot, steep sides and just really walking against a river," he said.
Colin said that the group didn't bother with their poncho's as they caused a lot of sweating during the heat of the day.
Helena, who was on her first trek, said the experience was 'terrifying' but also a privilege.
She had to face her fears to reach the lost city.
"I quickly got over any fear of putting my fingers into holes and possible tarantulas, because I was so frightened that I might fall backwards off a Cliff face.
"But it was exhilarating and a privilege because very few people have been to the lost city."
'Group spirit us through'
Both Colin and Helena praised the spirit within the group throughout the trek.
"Everybody mucked in, helped each other through the difficult bits and there were a lot of difficult bits and everybody had some sort of difficulty, but we were all there for each other," Helena said.
Colin said: "Everyone's spirit helping each other, thinking of everybody back home that's sponsored you, really does keep you going."
Colin told GHR that arriving at the lost city was 'unreal'.
"It is quite incredible to imagine that people live there.
"It was uncovered in the early 80s by the indigenous people there, there's only 20% of it uncovered, the government want to do more, but the indigenous people don't want to, and I can see why."