My name is Rob Ritchie, I am the father of Toby, and together with my wife Tanya we are the founders of Everest in the Alps. www.everestinthealps.com This is the exhausting 4 day challenge, ski-touring uphill the equivalent height of Everest, but in the Alps. At over 2kms of height gain a day on skis this is one of the toughest challenges in the mountains, with ultra long days pushing yourself uphill for an average of 10 hours each day.

Via eight 'EIAs' we have raised the money, alongside the Brain Tumour Charity, to found the Everest Centre in Heidelberg - a research centre committed to finding a cure for low grade paediatric brain tumours. The Everest Centre has now become the global hub for low grade research aligning with Dana Farber in Boston, and other international centres, in the search for a cure.It does however need urgent funding to continue its progress.

Our son Toby has a brain tumour. This journey started when he was 5 years old when his lung collapsed in intensive care after a pro-longed spell in hospital. Several months later his tumour was diagnosed and all our lives changed. Today Toby is 18 and having suffered 18 months of chemotherapy, several invasive brain surgeries (learning to walk again) he is living with his tumour and fighting his situation everyday. What Toby has had to endure no child should and there is more adversity ahead.

In February 2026 our Team - The Summit Saints - are taking on the challenge and it's a privilege to be part of this team. I had said to myself I would never attempt this challenge again knowing how hard the training and focus is to attempt this challenge. But when four friends from my University days - St Andrews - said they wanted to give to a go I said - "ok one last time."

The training in 2025 seems tougher, the body definitely slower to to recover and the challenge will be the hardest ever. But the plight of children with brain tumours is unfathomable - the biggest cancer killer of kids with less than 5% of the funding in cancer research. We have to climb again to try to find the answers for those children smitten with this disease.