Steven Graham
Steve's Page
Fundraising for Bliss
Story
Hi, and thankyou for visiting my fundraising page.
I am returning to Alaska early May to undertake a 3-4week expedition to climb to the summit of North America, namely Denali (or Mount McKinley as it is more commonly known) after being 'weathered-off' the previous 2 seasons, as part of my ambition to reach the '7 continental summits'. In addition I aim to run a marathon each year until completion, starting 5 years ago I am well on my way having completed 7 marathons and 2 continental summits plus numerous alpine peaks.In the process I aim to raise as much money as possible for my chosen charity. The Bliss Charity is close to my heart and as such this expedition will be dedicated to raising sponsorship to help support them in this difficult economic time. A short description of the expedition and the charity are detailed below.
Denali /Mount McKinley
Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain in North America and known to be one of the coldest mountains in the world outside Antarctica.The mountain stands 20320ft/6194m above the Alaskan range and is rated as one of the world's most challenging climbs.Any attempt to ascend Denali is a severe test of mountaineering skill and luck.
Lethally dangerous weather and treacherous glacier travel are Denali's signature features.The mountain is heavily exposed (being close to the coast) and so high that it protrudes into the jet stream.It is known around the world as a killer mountain, and with good reason, with temperatures often falling below -40celcius excluding the wind chill, the average rate of individual success stands at around 53%.To date over 100 people have lost their lives on the mountain, including 6+ in the last climbing season.
The weather conditions on Denali are extreme, with avalanches being a constant danger, it is common for expeditions to be tent bound for periods of up to 10days at a time to wait out storms and bad weather.
Each expedition member has to carry loads in excess of 50kg/110lbs split between a large backpack and a sledge which is dragged behind using a harness, through deep snow and up steep oxygen depleted slopes.
Bliss
Being the father of 2 premature baby boys who at the start of their lives spent many weeks in intensive care, I have been directly affected by the positive influences of Bliss and their donations to special care baby units both locally and throughout the country, by funding ground-breaking research, life-saving equipment and support.
Bliss is a UK based charity focused on improving the survival and long-term quality of life for babies born too soon, too small or too sick to cope on their own.
Every year thousands of children are born prematurely, some very premature. During this time they need support and care to get through those critical hours, days, weeks and months to grow and get stronger. Along the way they receive a lot of support from loving friends, family and exceptionally dedicated medical staff. They also require many specialist pieces of medical equipment that is often quite expensive. Bliss helps by providing funding and support for all this and a lot, lot more.
So, in recognition of the support that we were given I hope to raise as much money as possible for Bliss.
So, in recognition of the support that we were given I hope to raise as much money as possible for Bliss.
So Please, Help Those Who Are Too Little To Help Themselves.
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.