 James and Robert had hoped to climb Everest in April this year |
Two teenagers aiming to become the youngest Britons to climb Everest could be forced to cancel the trip for lack of sponsorship. James Hooper, from Wellington, Somerset, and Robert Gauntlett, from Petworth, West Sussex, have spent two years planning their epic trek.
They had hoped to travel to the Himalayas in April this year.
But the 18-year-olds have been unable to raise the �40,000 they need to fund their lifelong ambition.
The pair are already accomplished mountaineers - they scaled the 6,850m peak of Ama Dablam in Nepal as part of their build-up to the attempt on Everest.
 |  Since our last expedition to the Himalayas, we have spent every spare moment when not working attempting to raise funds for the big one |
But after fitting training for the trek around revising for their A Levels, James and Robert now face having to cancel the trip altogether.
James said: "It is frustrating because the training's going really well.
"Since returning from our last expedition to the Himalayas, we have spent every spare moment when not working attempting to raise funds for the big one.
"We have had a couple of near misses. A few companies have put it to the board and they have been on the verge of saying yes, but then we didn't quite make it."
The youngest person ever to reach the 29,035ft summit was 15-year-old Ming Kipa Sherpa, who completed the ascent in 2003.
Jake Meyer, 21, from Tetbury in Gloucestershire, became the youngest Briton to manage the climb when he conquered Everest in June last year.
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