Raised: 66%
Target: £29,035.00
Raised so far: £19,189.06
Donate now

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. 

We hope there is no connection between you leaving the country for 3 months & your engagement, Sam! Donation by Chris & Sarah Smart 22/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by David Thomas 22/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck Sam! Donation by Oli Cox 19/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Sam - truly incredible. Good luck and stay safe! Donation by Michael Poulton 19/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Remember the Rum Doodle... Donation by Tom Renwick 18/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Totally stark raving bonkers but I've always known that. Good luck! Donation by Kate Spiro 18/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

You're clearly barmy, but good luck! Donation by Jim Raffin 18/01/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

I'm so impressed. Good luck. Donation by Kay 17/01/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

There's a goldschlager in it for you if you summit. Good luck! Donation by Tom Debenham 16/01/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

All the best - hope you make it to the top Donation by Anna West 16/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck. Donation by Fryster 16/01/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Best of luck gents Donation by Benjamin Kay 16/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Russ! Donation by Louisa 16/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best! Donation by Anonymous 15/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck and go safely - an excellent cause Donation by Marcus Booth 15/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck fellas. Donation by Rob 15/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Very best of luck Donation by Ian and Kate Shawyer 15/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Very best of luck! It will be good training for your stag weekend... Donation by Jim and Tanya 15/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

You do know there are no good bars up there right? Just checking. Donation by Andrew Brudenell 15/01/07  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck guys! Donation by Barnsey 15/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Very brave. Even the training regime sounds tough to me! Good luck & enjoy ! Donation by Lisa D (friend of Dorothy H) 15/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck to you both (especially for that six pack Sam)! Donation by Aliceson 14/01/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

we thought you were both mad skiing ..now we are sure! Good luck Donation by tania and marc 13/01/07  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Good luck, freaks. Please tell that Yoda dude to sponsor me too. www.justgiving.com/threeinthree Donation by Bison 12/01/07  

£100.00

Best of luck guys. Donation by Graham Webster 12/01/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by anonymous 12/01/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck - looking forward to hearing some good stories on your return! Donation by Lucy & Steve Etherton 12/01/07  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Good Luck Russ.Keep safe.Lots of love. Donation by Gran and Grandad 12/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

This does not sound the same expedition you told your mother about when you mentioned snow and a hil Donation by Lynda and Len 12/01/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

The last one to the top is a sissy Donation by Rob Graham 12/01/07  

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

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.