CLIMBING FOR CHARITY
THE Rispin family are taking fund raising to new heights as they prepare to trek to Mount Everest’s base camp next May.
It will be Charlotte Rispin-Dureuil’s second trekking adventure while her father, DKIT lecturer Seamus Rispin ,is hoping to fulfil the dream of a lifetime along with his wife Nuala to raise funds for two charities close to their heart.
The idea for the ambitious trek, which will take them 5,380metres above sea level, was born when Charlotte climbed Kilimanjaro last summer.
Family trekking to Everest Basecamp for Charities
‘I climbed Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society last year as my two grandmothers and an aunt had cancer,’ says Charlotte, who lives in Seatown.
‘I am actually scared of heights so it was really tough. Before I did it, I said that once I’ve faced my fears, I’d never have to do anything like it again. However, even though it was really, really hard, it was one of the best experiences of my life.’
As soon as she was back home, Charlotte decided that she would like to take on another challenge.
‘It’s always been a dream of by Dad’s to go to Everest Base Camp so I said to him ‘why don’t you come with me’ and then my step mum Nuala decided to do it as well and she’s going to raise funds for Alzheimners as her mother as Alzheimners.’
Writing on the Facebook page which they have set up to promote their fund-raising they say:’ We are all aware of the impact that Cancer and Alzheimer’s can have on people’s lives, not just for the people who live with these illnesses but their families and loved ones as well. Our family have first-hand experience of both of these debilitating diseases and are aware of the care and support required during these challenging times.
‘Often we feel unequipped to deal with our loved ones properly, but there are organisations that are there to help. In an attempt to support the great work these charities do, we have decided to challenge ourselves, as a family, to trek to Everest Base Camp in May 2018. In the process, we aim to raise funds for two of these organisations - the Irish Cancer Society and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
‘ These are fantastic charity’s that help so many people every year through such awful disease’s and we would really love to make a big contribution to both causes. You can help us with this by supporting our fundraising efforts and we will appreciate any amount of support big or small.
Charlotte says her training involves going to the gym a couple of times a week and cycling to and from work, while her father is a keen hill walker and member of the DkIT hiking group. ‘He does a lot of hill walking in Ireland and my step mum goes with him.’
They are now organising a number of events to raise money for the two charities, starting with Country Jive Lessons in DkIT on October 19 and The Barbacan Arts Centre, Drogheda on October 17.
‘Nuala is a dance teacher and she will be giving the lessons with another tutor.’
They will also holding a fund-raising day in The Marshes Shopping Centre.