Participants who conquered the Mount Everest Challenge earlier this year have been honoured in a special celebration at Waipuna Hospice.

The challenge required those who took it on to climb Mauao 38 times in 50 days – all while helping to raise crucial funds for Waipuna Hospice.

This year marked the event's fourth year running and a total of $121,803.96 was raised.

An informal morning tea held at Waipuna Hospice on Tuesday, gave those who joined in a chance to celebrate their achievements.

Waipuna Hospice CEO Richard Thurlow says he's thankful to everyone who has been a part of it.

'We have been overwhelmed with the number of people and organisations who have completed this amazing challenge.

'The dedication people have shown in raising awareness and fundraising such an astounding amount, has been awe inspiring.

'The stories shared by the participants have captured our hearts and have provided endless motivation to our staff.”

Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Sasima Pearce, says the team is honoured to be selected as the charity of choice for this year's challenge.

'We thank MoreFM for the opportunity to be the Charity of choice this year. We have enjoyed being a part of the MoreFM Mount Everest Challenge and thank everyone for their continued support.

'The funds raised go towards to the $2.7m we need each year to ensure we are able to continue to provide the best level of palliative care and support to our patients and their families in the community”.

Their comments resonate with those made by MediaWorks Northern regional manager, Belinda Francis.

'We would like to take this chance to thank the community for once again getting behind The MoreFM Mount Everest challenge.

'We exceeded this year's goal of $100,000 and this has exceeded all our expectations. We feel proud that we could help contribute this very deserving charity.

'We look forward to next year and continuing this event which celebrates everything we love about living in the Bay; promotes health and wellbeing and coming together as a community to raise much deserved funds for charities that do such a great job of giving back.”

Those in attendance of the morning tea included 12-year-old George Mills, one of the youngest people who entered the challenge, who was supported by his step-grandparents.

George Mills, Trevor Philips and Raewyn Philips.

'I felt really good being a part of it. I wasn't that comfortable doing it at first, but it helped me to come out of my shell.

'My parents encouraged me do it, and I thought it was a good way to get outside and get some exercise in.

'I lost about four kilos from doing it and as well as that, doing the challenge has also encouraged me to get into a lot of different sports.”

George, who is a year eight student at Mount Maunganui Intermediate School, says his teacher has been one of his biggest supporters.

'She cheered me on throughout the whole time and was one of about 20 people who came to my last climb, she didn't join me like them to climb it though, because she said she may have had a heart attack.”

He's now encouraging others to get involved in next year's challenge.

'The hardest part about it was getting myself out of bed and doing it – but I pushed myself. It's showed me if you work really hard you can achieve anything you put your mind towards.”