Everest Challenge to raise funds

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:53:32 +0000

Climbers at the U of L are back for a fourth time to take on The Everest Challenge.

Beginning on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., three teams of climbers will climb just over 8,848 m (29,029 ft), the equivalent height of Mount Everest, on the indoor climbing wall at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Ascent Climbing Centre. The event will continue non-stop over the next 24 hours.

"This year, participants will climb the wall a minimum of 60 times each, with added challenges such as a snow blindness challenge in which climbers will climb blindfolded," says Nicole Sutherland, U of L Climbing Club President. "The Everest Challenge provides us with something to train for, and allows us to push ourselves for a good cause. I believe this year will be the most exciting yet, because we have finally perfected the logistics of the event."

Founded by a group of Rotaract students in 2009, and in collaboration with the Climbing Club, the group has raised nearly $7,500 (over 650,000 Nepalese rupees) from friends, family, and local businesses, to support the non-profit organization Uphill Both Ways, which furthers development in Nepal by funding construction and donating school supplies.

"The funds raised will go to furthering education and public health initiatives in Nepal," says Drew Andreachuk, a U of L student who has worked first-hand in Nepal supporting the cause, "It's hard to describe my time in Nepal but the kindness and love that the people have shown me there is astounding. I know we are making a difference and by donating and coming to climb you are making a difference too!"

Just a few Canadian dollars can supply a child with books and school supplies, a few hundred dollars can equip a classroom with desks and a blackboard, and a few thousand dollars can provide an entire school clean drinking water.

The Everest Challenge is not just a fundraiser and a place for climbers to show what they're made of; it is an open invitation to the public for an opportunity to learn more about climbing. Everyone is encouraged to come out on Friday and Saturday and climb, donate and cheer on the climbers.

To learn more about Everest Challenge, visit this link. To learn more about Uphill Both Ways, visit this link.

Rotaract looks to scale Everest

trevor.kenney — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:34:34 +0000

In an effort to raise money for a good cause, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students and others will be climbing Mt. Everest this weekend.

Well, sort of.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, the U of L Climbing Club and U of L Rotaract Club will co-host The Everest Challenge, which will see participants try to climb the equivalent height of Mt. Everest at the Ascent Climbing Centre, located in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

"The club has been trying to raise awareness of climbing as a sport for a while now," says club president David Cassidy. "This seemed like a good way to do that. Then my dad mentioned that if we were going to do it, why not raise some money at the same time?"

Ascent Climbing Centre has donated the full use of the climbing wall for the day to run this event. The U of L Climbing Club and Rotaract Club will recruit 13 teams of three people to climb. Each team will to pay a $50 sign up fee and are encouraged to get pledges for their team.

Starting at noon on Saturday,Feb. 27, each team will be expected to complete 45 climbs per team or 15 climbs per person. If each team completes the challenge we will have collectively climbed the elevation of Mount Everest from sea level.

The event will raise money and awareness for "Uphill Both Ways," an organization created by a local Lethbridge family.

The organization is an education relief fund that is non-denominational, not for profit, and focused on education and health care development for children in communities of Nepal. U of L students Janelle Pritchard and Drew Andreachuk are both in Nepal working hard to help this cause with money that they have already raised.

UNews - Drew Andreachuk

Everest Challenge to raise funds

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