Hi Folks,

Just a quick note before you read on and possibly donate there are 2 pages below can we please choose a page/link as I am trying to split this fund raising evenly. Thanks in advance.

I would like to introduce our small team which consists of the 3 of us, my good friends Morgan Cook and our illustrious leader Major Cliff McAuley. We have been close friends for over 30 years and we first met and served together in the army as young men thinking we could take on the world. For a while we did and then I left to pursue a different career path, after losing contact for a short while we managed to get back in touch some years later and it was like nothing changed.

Last year Cliff was diagnosed with Cancer so Unfortunately it will only be Morgan and myself that will be participating in this challenge as the big fellow has been fighting the big fight for the past 9 months. However I can happily report that he is doing really well and the treatment has been a great success to date, its has been very inspiring watching him tackle this as he has a get it done attitude and just wants to get back on the golf course.

This has inspired us to do something to challenge ourselves and hopefully at the same time raise some money for good causes. It was also motivated by the fact that Morgan was 50 last year and I'm 50 this year so let's do it whilst we still can.

Cook, decided that it would be a good idea to climb the highest mountain in Europe, obviously me being a bit gungho agreed to it not giving it too much thought and with very little knowledge of what lies ahead, "its only a Hill". So challenge accepted. How wrong was I, it's a very physically demanding and challenging mountain. However we felt that with the correct preparation and commitment we could take on the challenge this year whilst still in our prime, we have been training for the past 6 months and feel that we are ready to give this a go, with some proper guidance and not being too foolish and to give ourselves the best chance we have signed up with a very well respected mountain guide company that specialise specifically with Mont Blanc.

https://www.montblancguides.com/

Whilst this is all great and a bit of an adventure

for 2 overzealous teenagers (midlife crisis) the important part of this is that we have decided to raise funds for some charities, Beatson Cancer Charity as Cliff and Sarah have had some very personnel dealings with them over the years and this is also a horrible disease which has affected many of us over the years and still does somewhat today. I would also like to give a mention to Stuart who like Cliff has a great get this done attitude which I know is inspiring for all his friends and family.

We have also decided to support MND Scotland as I have witnessed through a very close family friend the exceptional care and support that they provide. Both of these charities undertake fantastic work and provide essential support for not only the patients but also the families and friends that have to endure these hard fights. So please help us to support these charities as we would like to raise monies for both causes.

Thank you for taking the time to read this page and we really appreciate any support offered.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR KIND SUPPORT.

Montblqnc guides Some notes from the guides page..

Please bear in mind the following:

Mont Blanc (4808m) is harder than Aconcagua (6960m) and much harder than Kilimanjaro (5895m)

The effort required on summit day exceeds that of running a marathon

You absolutely MUST have solid endurance fitness to do this (mountaineering experience not required)

If you are overweight you will almost certainly fail

https://www.montblancguides.com/fitness/https://www.montblancguides.com/fitness/