Sarah Ball and the Machu PiGchu Team Support Harry’s Pals

Sarah Ball, publisher of Modern Joinery News, has completed the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for the second time, as part of a 12-strong industry team that has raised an exceptional £50,000, including Gift Aid, for Harry’s Pals.

The Machu PiGchu team took on the five-day trek in Peru as part of the PiGs Charity Challenge, with every team member funding their own place so that all money raised could go directly to the charity.

Harry’s Pals became PiGs Charity of the Year 2025 and 2026 after Sarah learned more about its work from founder Hayley Charlesworth, whose husband Andrew, of Kommerling, joined the PiGs charity challenge team that climbed Kilimanjaro in 2024.

Hearing about the support the charity provides to parents whose babies and children have life-limiting illnesses or disabilities made a lasting impression.

Sarah said: “Once we understood more about what Hayley and the team do for families going through some of the hardest times imaginable, choosing Harry’s Pals as our charity felt absolutely right.

“To have raised £50,000, including Gift Aid, is phenomenal. The generosity of the glazing industry is second to none, and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Although Sarah had trekked the Inca Trail before, she admits she had underestimated just how tough it would be the second time around.

“The altitude sickness affected nearly all of us at some point, and the weather was exceptionally hot, which made the trek even harder.

“Reaching Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 metres was a huge achievement, but what really stood out was the team. Everyone supported each other throughout, and that made all the difference.

“On the final day, we also had to clear the path after trees came down in the rainforest during a huge overnight storm. It was certainly not the finish we had expected, but we pulled together and got through it.”

Sarah paid tribute to everyone who took part and everyone who donated, whether to individual team members or the group as a whole.

“Thank you to every single person who supported us. This achievement belongs to the whole team, and so does the fundraising total.

“Raising £50,000 for Harry’s Pals is incredible, and knowing it will help families who really need that support makes every difficult step worthwhile.”

Donations are still welcome via the team’s JustGiving page.