Reaching the Peak for the Alzheimers SocietyAndrew Williams is a 31 year old lawyer from Manchester. While this description connotes ideas of an average, successful man, in truth he is anything but average. In order to raise money for the Alzheimers Society, Andrew embarked on a 2 month expedition in the Himalayas, and survived a somewhat dramatic Everest trek.
After departing from Everest Base Camp, the group began a 7 day ascent and 3 day descent, that proved to be a difficult 10 day Everest trek. Andrew's trek from Everest Base Camp was gruelling, and his path to the top was filled with challenges.
His group ran out of oxygen, after about 20 bottles went missing from a camp. However, their limited supplies took them to the summit and they managed to scavenge a few bottles to help with their descent.
One of the most challenging aspects of their Everest trek was their encounter with the bodies of climbers who had been beaten by the mountain, never making it back to Everest Base Camp. But despite the gruelling reminders of the mountain's dangers and their lack of oxygen, the group made it to the top, and all in the name of charity.
After leaving Manchester on 1 April 2009, Andrew returned home mid June, exhausted and with cracked ribs from coughing dry air at high altitudes. And while Andrew says he will never do the Everest trek again, he sees it as a valuable life experience, and is proud of his achievements.
Reaching the Seven Summits with Multiple Sclerosis
On 23 May 2009, Lori Schneider achieved her goal of completing the ultimate Everest trek when she stepped onto the summit of the highest mountain in the world. It was also the final peak needed to complete the Seven Summits challenge (reaching the highest peak on each continent) making Lori one of only 25 women to have achieved this amazing goal. Aged 52, Lori was also the first woman over 50 years old to make the summit of Everest but, more remarkable still, she suffers from multiple sclerosis.
Lori began training for her Everest trekking expedition 12 months before she planned to make the climb. She attributes her success at combating the mountain and reaching the top to her positive attitude, her rigorous training regimen, her superfood diet and the support of her friends and family.
From Everest Base Camp Lori, and her fellow climbers, had a long and arduous ascent. The final leg of her Everest trek was completed in -4Ëš temperatures, with 60mph winds and near white-out conditions. She arrived back at Everest Base Camp on May 25 2009, as the first woman over 50 years old and with multiple sclerosis, not only to reach Everest's Summit, but to complete the Seven Summits of the world.
Reaching the Peak 19 Times
For most people, reaching the summit on an Everest trek just once is an unthinkable achievement. But for Apa Sherpa, a 49 year old from the village of Thame in Nepal, reaching the Everest's summit is just the first of many Everest treks. This incredible individual has completed the ascent to the summit a total of 19 times, a world record achievement.
From Everest Base Camp, Apa carried a sacred vase called a Bhumpa all the way to the summit. The high monk, Ngawang Tenzin Zangpo, asked Apa to carry the vase which had been filled over 400 different ingredients such as relics and plants to the summit. Apa was then to offer the vase to Chomolangma, Mother Goddess of the World, as a prayer to protect humanity and stop climate change.
By Kirsty Parsons
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