22 Year Old Student Heather Mutch, from Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway is going to be trekking to base camp Everest in August 2022 to raise money and awareness of CHAS children’s Hospice across Scotland.
Heather told DGWGO I am studying Politics and International relations at Aberdeen university. I am a resident in Lockerbie and in 2017 I was granted the scholarship to Syracuse university in remembrance of the Lockerbie 11 who lost their lives in the Pam Am 103 1988 disaster and Andrew Mcclune a former Lockerbie student who tragically passed away in Syracuse.
Learning about the disaster and my experience in Syracuse has inspired me to learn about foreign affairs and get involved with charity work.
On the 29th of August this year I will be trekking to base camp Everest. I am raising money and Awareness of CHAS children’s Hospice across Scotland. During the pandemic CHAS has struggled to raise awareness and money they currently only have enough support to help one in three families.
CHAS is vital for so many terminally ill children offering care for the final stages of their life. It supports the families who are dealing with the unimaginable pain of losing a young child. CHAS has helped countless lives; it is the only hospice service in Scotland for children and young people with life shortening conditions. The challenge I am taking part in is a 13-day hike for an average of 8 hours a day to just beyond Gorak Shep the base camp for the first successful summit to Everest in 1953.
The trek is organised by Choose a challenge which raises money for charities in a unique way. I will be making the journey with 7 other students, and we hope to raise over £20,000. This extreme multi trek reaches significant altitude of 5,645m above sea level it begins in Kathmandu all the way to base camp Everest. We will be camping with locals in the area and the food is prepared by the Sherpas who will guide us on our journey. This intense challenge requires a high fitness level and I have been training in the gym 5 days a week preparing for the climb. I will also be taking part in a Kilt walk which is a 26 mile walk and the money raised will be topped up by 50% thanks to the generosity of Tom Hunter and the Tom Hunter foundation. All the money I raise goes directly to CHAS. Every little helps make a difference.
“I am so excited to be taking part in such an amazing opportunity to raise money and awareness of a charity that means so much to so many people, even though I am a bit nervous about the challenge in itself and my body adapting to the altitude not to mention flying into one of the most dangerous airports in the world it will be so worth knowing that I made a small difference to someone’s life”
If You would like to donate, please click this link (https://aberdeen.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/AberdeenKiltwalk2022-HeatherMutch)
Heather would be very thankful, and really appreciate any support.
