At the end of this month, Mark Delstanche, Captain of MY Ilona is heading off to climb Everest - a mad crazy idea to most of us but whatever floats your boat!

This expedition leaves Kathmandu on the 29th March and lasts just over two months, hopefully returning to Kathmandu around the 7th June so fair play it's one hell of a slog.  Mark has decided to use this expedition to try and raise money for research into Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma a very rare and terminal cancer which our friend Melanie Jaggard is currently suffering from. 

Having beaten ACC in her head in 2007 through surgery and radiation the cancer has returned in her lungs recently.  Mel is doing everything she can to fight this disease and with diet and a never ending determination and positive energy to keep it at bay til the clever boffins can find a cure and we, her buddies are doing everything we can to raise money for these boffins!

Here's where you come in, Mark's chums and Mel's chums and everyone we know we are asking for sponsorship, there is massive leaps and bounds coming on in research into the disease and we are hoping you'll be able to put a little into the pot to keep fighting as the cure is tantalisingly close we are sure of it.  We are donating to Get-A-Head a fabulous Head and Neck Cancer Charity and they are ensuring anything we raise goes directly to ACC research.

And this is EVEREST - a 2 month trek up the highest mountain in the world - no mean feat I am sure you'll agree and most deserved of our respect and any cash we can spare

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