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Neil Heritage raised £3,650 from 10 supporters
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Closed 15/08/2018
Iʼve raised £3,650 to help Neil become the first double-knee amputee to climb the Matterhorn.
- Funded on Wednesday, 15th August 2018
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Story
Hello, my name’s Neil Heritage, I’m a double-knee amputee, and at the end of July 2018, I’ll be attempting to climb to the summit of the Matterhorn.
If I do it, I’ll be the first double-knee amputee to reach the top.
My Matterhorn climb signifies a huge step forward in my own recovery. I’m doing it because I want to show myself that I can, that I’m ready. But it’s also for others. It’ll help me to lead a course in alpine climbing for other wounded veterans. To help them with their own recovery – physically and mentally.
A bit about me
Having joined the army at the age of 16, straight out of school, I was injured by a suicide bomber in 2004 while I was working as an electronics specialist on a bomb disposal team in Iraq. I lost both my legs above the knee.
Since then, I’ve competed in triathlons, cycled across Europe, learned to ski, qualified as a scuba diving instructor, and was part of the first injured crew to row across the Atlantic, unsupported.
I was also honoured to receive The Henry Worsley Award from The Endeavour Fund (part of The Royal Foundation, set up by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry) last year for my determination and the work I’ve done to support and inspire others in their recovery.
About the Matterhorn challenge
The Matterhorn sits on the Swiss-Italian border, standing at 4,478 metres (that’s 14,692 feet) high. It’s climbed by as many as 2,000 people a year, but there have been over 500 fatalities, making it one of the world’s most dangerous peaks.
We’ll be climbing via the Lion’s ridge route (there are four in total). With a climbing grade of ‘very difficult’, it’s not the hardest climb in the world (that would be ‘extremely severe’) but it’s certainly not easy either. Its advantage is that it has more places where we can stop safely overnight if we need to, compared to the other routes.
The plan is to start on 30th July and climb up to the Carrel hut at 3,835 metres in the first two days. We’ll stay there overnight before continuing to a ‘bivi’ location (a safe spot where we can camp) on the third day. On the fourth we’ll reach the summit – we hope! It’ll then take two more days to climb back down.
Even the best laid plans can change though, so we’ve given ourselves 10 days to do the whole thing. Just in case.
But, before I can even start climbing, we need to raise £8,500 to pay for our equipment, travel and mountain guides. (We also have a separate JustGiving page where we’re raising money for a charity that’s close to my heart – Blesma The Limbless Veterans. You can find that here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/climb2recovery.)
If you think you might be able to help, I’d be over the moon (or Matterhorn).
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Supporters
10
Hayley
Jul 31, 2018
Hoping for great conditions - An amazing adventure
£20.00
Sue Vogan
Jul 31, 2018
So impressed with your achievements and just want to wish you good luck for your challenge.
£20.00
Fiona Nimmo
Jul 30, 2018
Good luck! Hope it’s third time lucky 🤞🏻
£40.00
Helen Robinson& Claudia Billings
Jul 27, 2018
Hope you’re successful & good luck.
£20.00
Nick Morris
Jul 23, 2018
Amazing challange - hope it all comes together for you this time.
£100.00
Anna Bennett
Jul 17, 2018
Hi NeilThis has got to be your year, will keep my fingers crossed for the right weather! Good luck to the whole team,Awesome and inspiring 👍
£100.00
Denise Etherington
Jul 17, 2018
You're such an inspiration Neil. Wishing you all the best on this adventure!
£50.00
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