Story
EVEREST CLIMBED
On 20th May 2003, Sheffield climber Adrian Cooper died after a long illness - and those of us who knew and loved him as a husband, father, son, brother or climbing partner, had lost a very special friend.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in November 1996 and underwent several courses of gruelling chemotherapy which kept the disease at bay. Unfortunately, as a side effect he developed leukaemia - and although the treatment for this (including two bone marrow transplants) was initially successful, it left him vulnerable to the infections to which he eventually succumbed.
Despite his illness and punishing therapy, his passion for climbing never left him, and he got out onto his beloved grit-stone crags whenever the slightest chance arose. It seemed appropriate, therefore, that an event to celebrate his life should combine the sport that was his passion with an opportunity to raise money for the institutions that helped him during his struggle with illness.
Hence the Peak District "Everest Challenge". Over two days, a team of climbers will be attempting to reach a target of rock climbs (each on average about 40ft) making a combined total of 29,028ft (8,848m) - in other words, the height of Mount Everest! The money we raise will go to the Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, and will be used to help develop and deliver the services without which Adrian would not have survived long after his initial diagnosis. Hopefully - with your support - people who are similarly affected in the future will stand a better chance of an ultimate cure. Thank you for your generosity. WE DID IT- The response has been fantastic- both in sponsorship and in support over the weekend (climbing and cheering, from age 3 to 75).We got to the summit and even managed to climb a little bit more on top. Well done to everybody. For photos of the day, and to see if you can spot your sponsored climber visit: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/1440615
On 20th May 2003, Sheffield climber Adrian Cooper died after a long illness - and those of us who knew and loved him as a husband, father, son, brother or climbing partner, had lost a very special friend.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in November 1996 and underwent several courses of gruelling chemotherapy which kept the disease at bay. Unfortunately, as a side effect he developed leukaemia - and although the treatment for this (including two bone marrow transplants) was initially successful, it left him vulnerable to the infections to which he eventually succumbed.
Despite his illness and punishing therapy, his passion for climbing never left him, and he got out onto his beloved grit-stone crags whenever the slightest chance arose. It seemed appropriate, therefore, that an event to celebrate his life should combine the sport that was his passion with an opportunity to raise money for the institutions that helped him during his struggle with illness.
Hence the Peak District "Everest Challenge". Over two days, a team of climbers will be attempting to reach a target of rock climbs (each on average about 40ft) making a combined total of 29,028ft (8,848m) - in other words, the height of Mount Everest! The money we raise will go to the Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield, and will be used to help develop and deliver the services without which Adrian would not have survived long after his initial diagnosis. Hopefully - with your support - people who are similarly affected in the future will stand a better chance of an ultimate cure. Thank you for your generosity. WE DID IT- The response has been fantastic- both in sponsorship and in support over the weekend (climbing and cheering, from age 3 to 75).We got to the summit and even managed to climb a little bit more on top. Well done to everybody. For photos of the day, and to see if you can spot your sponsored climber visit: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/1440615