THE founder of a charity based in Hyde, who has recovered from cancer and survived Covid-19 and a heart attack, is to embark on a virtual climb to support the poorest communities in India.

John Hunt, in partnership with 400 boys and staff from Winchester College, plans to (virtually) climb Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 29,028 ft/8,848m to raise funds for Lotus Flower Trust.

The 80-year-old felt it was important to take on his own fundraising challenge and lead by example especially during these difficult times for charities.

“I don’t think you can ask people to do things for you unless you are prepared to go out there and do it yourself,” he said.

The challenge 

Using his climbing machine, he will climb the height of Everest – 29,028ft - but actually plans to achieve 30,000 ft, and starts his virtual journey on August 21.

“It is a bit of a cheat, I’m meant to be climbing Everest but I’m climbing 30,000ft on the climbing machine.”

He plans to reach the summit on September 24, exactly 100 years to the day since the 1921 team reached the North Col, the anniversary of what was then the highest anyone had ever climbed.

Tribute to 1921 expedition

On September 24, 1921 climbers from the very first British expedition to Everest reached 23,000 ft, the North Col on the mountain.

Among them were George Mallory and three others, all former pupils of Winchester College. Another member of the team was botanist Dr Sandy Wollaston, a direct relative of one of the Trustees of the Lotus Flower Trust, Richard Wollaston.

But the North Col was as high as they achieved; the explorers turned back due to poor weather, returning again in 1922 and then again in 1924. In 1924 George Mallory and Sandy Irvine perished close to the summit and it is still a mystery as to whether they reached the top or not.

On September 24, the team from Winchester College will replicate the approach journey made by those on the 1921 expedition, by collectively running some 2,500 km.

Preparing for the climb 

John has been busy preparing for the challenge - walking everyday and training on his climbing machine.

He said: “I’m very lucky, a lot of people my age couldn’t do this sort of thing. I’ll do it. If I say I’m going to do something I’ll do it.”

Covid-19 experience 

In 2019 he had prostate cancer and then last year had Covid, which was followed four weeks later by a heart attack, which he has fully recovered from.

Speaking about his Covid experience, he said: “I felt very awful for five or six days but I didn’t go to hospital. It was very uncomfortable. I felt very tired and had headaches but not as bad as some poor souls. I think that is down to fitness, I was fit before I had Covid.”

Fundraising target

A fundraising target of £100,000 has been set, which will fund three major projects to help ease poverty, climate change and support education in India.

These include building a farm at Basgo Nunnery in Ladakh to help the nuns and destitute girls who reside there to become self-sufficient; creating artificial glaciers to restore water to four remote Himalayan villages; and building a new school for 1,000 poor children studying in unsafe conditions near Moradabad.

John said: “As India struggles with the second wave of the Covid-19 virus, fundraising for charity has become harder than ever. I am determined not to let anything come between us and helping the poor with whom we work and who are in desperate need of our support.”

To reach the £100k target “would mean everything” to John, who said the funds would help to “change people’s lives”.

How to donate 

To donate visit: justgiving.com/campaign/WINCOLLLFTMalloryNorthColEverestChallenge

 

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