Everest in the Alps is a highly imaginative initiative to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity while at the same time roping in both mountain skills and the outdoors for a worthy cause. The effort is the world’s first ski-touring challenge to take place in this manner, notably at the Swiss ski resort of Verbier from 24-27 March, 2015. During the challenge, an amateur team of 14 will climb the 8,848m – the equivalent height of Everest – on skis in four days. The Essential Edge is publishing this together with Le News and other media outlets to help this cause.
For why these skiers are doing this, read Hampshire-based Rob Ritchie’s moving piece (See Toby’s story) on how his youngest son Toby is battling a brain tumour. Since Toby’s diagnosis, he has endured major surgery and chemotherapy. And yet brain tumour research gets less than two percent of the United Kingdon’s annual spending on cancer research. For those of us who have, or have had, family and friends stricken by cancer, this is an all-too-familiar conundrum.
Ritchie’s own efforts with the help of colleagues at Goldman Sachs, where he is managing director in investment banking, already have raised over two million pounds sterling for The Brain Tumour Charity through Everest in the Alps.
Online, Everest in the Alps has raised an additional £85,000, 85% of its initial £100,000 fundraising target. All donations will help The Charity progress in efforts to find a cure. As Challenge organiser, Tom Bodkin of Secret Compass, points out: “Ski-touring is a tough and often uphill activity – each team member’s daily calorie burn equates to running four marathons back to back. It’ll be tough but we aim to succeed, motivated by Toby’s situation and that of children like him.” British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes added: “I applaud your efforts to raise money for such a worthy cause, and I wish you every success in setting up the research programme under the Everest Innovation Fund.”
Brain tumour facts
- Less than 2% of the UK’s annual cancer research spend goes on brain tumour research.
- Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40.
- Almost 5,000 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.
- Just 15% of adults survive for five years or more after the diagnosis of a malignant brain tumour.
All money raised will go to The Brain Tumour Charity’s ring-fenced Everest Innovation Fund to launch specific research projects into the type of tumour Toby has – a low-grade glioma – as outlined in The Charity’s new research strategy this January. In 2015 Secret Compass will stage other challenging expeditions in Lapland, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Siberia, Panama, Armenia, Sinai, Iran, Burma, Ethiopia, Namibia and Kyrgyzstan.
For challenge information go to The Everest in the Alps:
For media enquiries contact: Kerry O’Neill by email or on +44 7815 896 533.
The Brain Tumour Charity
The Brain Tumour Charity is at the forefront of the fight to defeat brain tumours, making a difference every day to the lives of people with a brain tumour and their families. Registered Charity No. 1150054 (England and Wales) SC045081 (Scotland). Find out more at their website or by emailing Polly Newton.
Secret Compass
Secret Compass is a pioneering expedition company creating world-first experiences for teams of like-minded adventurers. Through group and bespoke adventures, Secret Compass helps each team member achieve the extraordinary in the world’s wildest places. Founded by ex-British Army Parachute Regiment officers, its expeditions reach the planet’s most remote regions in the spirit of exploration’s earliest pioneers. For more information, please email.
This article was originally posted on The Essential Edge – The Lake Geneva view of global writing.
