Raised: 66%
Target: £29,035.00
Raised so far: £19,189.06
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My story

 

As many of you already know, Russ Lamb and Sam Kay are together attempting to climb Mount Everest by the South East ridge route, setting off in March 2007.  At 8,850m (29,035 feet), Everest is the highest mountain in the world.  For those who are interested, more information on the climb is set out below.

Many of you have been asking about whether or not we will be raising money for a charity - the answer is yes!  We are hoping to raise funds for the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, which is the largest single funder of laboratory based brain tumour research in the UK (see http://www.sdrt.co.uk).

6,500 adults are diagnosed with a malignant primary tumour each year in the UK, in addition to 13,500 diagnosed with a secondary tumour from other cancers.  Brain cancer now kills more children than leukaemia and a child diagnosed with a brain tumour has a 60% chance of survival after a five year period, compared to an 85% survival rate in respect of leukaemia.  Duncan Tunstall, a close friend of Michael Bardell (a banking partner at Travers Smith, where we also work), was diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour in 2001.  A keen rock and mountain climber, Duncan is undertaking a number of Alpine climbs with a view to raising some much needed money for SDBTT.  We are proud to be associated with this.

Our target is to raise £29,035, ie. a pound for every foot we have to climb!  Please note that we are arranging the funding of the climb ourselves, so all the money you contribute will go directly to SDBTT (net of the Just Giving costs).

In case you would like to know more about the expedition, the rough plan is to head to Everest Base Camp (5,600m, 18,370 feet) from Kathmandu and, having acclimatised there, to make our way up the mountain following a similar route to the one undertaken by the 1953 expedition that led to the first successful summit of Everest.  From Base Camp, climbers have to venture through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall.  The Icefall is regarded as one of the most dangerous stages of the climb. The Khumbu glacier that forms the Icefall moves at such speed that huge crevasses open without much warning and large seracs (ice towers) suddenly collapse. It is estimated that the glacier advances three to four feet down the mountain every day and, as the ice structures are continually changing, crossing the Khumbu Icefall can be somewhat challenging.  Camp I is situated at the top of the Icefall at 6,065m.  The route then continues along the Western Cwm to Camp II at 6,500m, nestling at the base of the Lhotse face.  Although the Western Cwm is only a gently rising glacial valley, it can become unbearably hot as the sun's rays are trapped by the sides of the valley and the high altitude intensifies their strength.  From Camp II, the climb continues up the Lhotse face on fixed ropes up to Camp III (7,470m), which is perched on a ledge that has to be hacked-out of the steep face.  Making it this far will take until the end of April as it takes time to carry the loads needed for a summit push this high and climbers need to move slowly up the mountain so that the body has time to acclimatise to the altitude.   If we are lucky enough to make a bid for the summit, we will leave Camp III for the South Col, which sits in the Death Zone at around 8,000m (where the oxygen level is less than a third of that at sea-level).  The route then continues from the South Col up to the Summit Ridge, negotiating the Hilary Step before reaching the true summit at 8,850m.  After plenty of hard work and lots of luck, we will hopefully be in a position to make a bid for the summit some time in May 2007.  Sounds quite straightforward…

Feel free to contact Russ or Sam directly if you want some further information on the climb, the charity or to have a chat generally. 

Good luck. Donation by Davina 27/02/07  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Money raised on behalf of Mr Robin Parfitt by Kirsten MacLaurin and Georgia Watson at their 13th bir Donation by Mrs Gill MacLaurin 27/02/07  

£250.00

All the best guys. Take care. Donation by Nik and Anna 27/02/07  

£50.00

Good luck guys! All the best! Donation by Alain Lam 27/02/07  

£150.00

Make it back safe boys (Sammy, the North needs you!). Donation by Katie 26/02/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Don't forget the Kendal mint cake! Donation by Cookie & Dave 24/02/07  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Rather you than us. Good luck and look forward to hearing all about it on your return. Donation by Georgie & Max 21/02/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Can't decide whether you're mad or brave - but be safe!! Donation by Deborah Price 20/02/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

If you don't come back I'll come looking for you!! Donation by Trevor Green 20/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck, Sam! Donation by Cathy & Ian Davies 20/02/07  

£50.00

All the best Russ, hope you have bought the special boots to keep your toes warm! Donation by Anna Weeks 20/02/07  

£29.35 + £8.28 Gift Aid

Good luck fellas. Hope you summit. Donation by Ed Mills 19/02/07  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

Climb well and take good care you mad bar stewards. Donation by Ed Wright 19/02/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Pure madness. Come back safely and good luck!! Donation by Anneke Soper 19/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck guys. Be safe. Donation by Rich 19/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Best of luck chaps. Don't forget your Kendal Mint Cake. Donation by Vic Hardy 19/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good Luck from Father-in-law of James Trafford and every success for Samantha Dickson Trust Donation by Howard Giles 18/02/07  

£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid

Best of luck. Marvellous effort. Donation by Andrew Jolly 17/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Sorry I can't be with you Donation by Barbara 16/02/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

What an adventure! Donation by David 16/02/07  

£70.00 + £19.74 Gift Aid

Best of luck boys Donation by AJL 16/02/07  

£500.00 + £141.03 Gift Aid

Good luck fellas. Do it for hairy Cumbrians, Russ! Donation by Jasper & Sarah 16/02/07  

£88.50 + £24.96 Gift Aid

Here's the £35 - good luck raising the other £29,000 Donation by Tom Leader 15/02/07  

£35.00 + £9.87 Gift Aid

Good luck. It beats working but I wouldn't want to do it Donation by Neil Dolby 15/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Gaun yersel! Enjoy and take care. Donation by Paula Clark 15/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

best of british guys - hope all goes well Donation by BG 15/02/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Mind the Yeti! Donation by Trevor 15/02/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck and save journey Donation by Angus 15/02/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Supriya 15/02/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

hope you make Everest look easier than the walls at the Castle... good luck Donation by Ali & Liza 14/02/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £19,189.06
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £5,128.84

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