Our virtual Everest expedition

We are staging a virtual climb of Mount Everest to raise money for Wellspring, Carers Resource and Covid relief. All the previous daily blogs can be read here.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

In a few weeks’ time our President should be standing on the top of the highest mountain in the world – but without leaving Yorkshire. It will be the culmination of our virtual expedition up Everest to raise money for our Covid Relief Fund which has already given away some £10,000.

We aim to get some twenty Club members to Base Camp and then a party of six will start up towards the summit. To succeed between us we will have to walk over 1,500 miles and climb 1,000,000 feet.

For some weeks now Club members have been getting miles in the bank by pounding lanes and fields, trekking across the Yorkshire Dales and climbing anything that can be climbed locally. Steps up to Knaresborough Castle, stairs in a high-rise apartment, even the hill at the back of a member’s house. Project leader Graham Chilvers has devised a formula that enables him to translate our Yorkshire miles and feet of ascent into Everest miles and feet taking account of altitude, gradient, weather and under-foot conditions. An Everest mile can be many Yorkshire miles.

To date the trek has raised some £2500 in sponsorship from members and friends but now we’re opening it up to everyone in a bid to reach our target of £5000. Most of the money we raise will go to support two local organisations that help to pick up the pieces when people suffer from the fall-out from Covid. ‘Carers’ Resource’ supports those who devote their lives to caring for a close friend or family member. ‘Wellspring’ offers a mental health counselling service, giving advice, offering support and helping to make a real difference to countless lives. These are charities whose work is needed now as never before and this is why we are defying the years by walking and climbing.”

You can listen to our Radio York interview here.

Follow our virtual progress here or on our Facebook and Twitter pages

(@ HarrogateBrigantesRotaryClub; @Harrogate_BrigantesRC).

You can help us by donating via the Just Giving button, you should ignore the "suggested" donation and fill in the amount you are happy with.

And from all of us on the Everest slopes – “Thankyou”.