Women go to the top of the world for charities
TWO Llanelli women have walked and cycled the equivalent height of Everest for two charities close to their hearts.
Just two years ago, Mandy Lane had very little cycling experience – but she has now climbed the equivalent of Everest... in Trimsaran.
Mandy took part in the challenge to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance charity with a target of £1,200.
As of last night, she has less than £100 to raise before reaching that.
Mandy joined Bynea Cycling Club just over two years ago and was “welcomed with open arms and encouraged from the very beginning” by everyone, she said.
The climb, which she completed at the weekend, was nearly a mile long with an average gradient of 9.2 per cent. Mandy had to cycle up it 77 times to reach the height of Everest, 29,029ft.
The climb was especially relevant to Mandy because not only is it the Bynea Cycling Club hill climb time trial, but also because she has avoided riding it for so long.
This year has been extremely hard for the club as ‘much-loved’ members have sadly passed away.
Reflecting on why she has set herself the challenge to cycle ‘Mount Everest’, Mandy, from Llanelli, said: “I have wanted to give something back to the club as a form of thank you for the guidance, advice, help, and friendship I have received over the years.
“I would never have been able to attempt the Everest challenge without my club’s support.
“I am now in a position to not only say thank you to my cycling club for their influential and integral part in my cycling journey by supporting the club’s nominated charity, but also raise awareness and funds for a truly incredible cause.”
Bethan Taylor, from Hendy, spent more than a month undertaking a tough endurance challenge to raise funds for the Ammanford branch of domestic violence charity, Calan DVS.
Bethan chose to start the challenge on May 23 as it coincided with the 25th anniversary of the first Welshman, Caradog Jones, reaching the summit of Everest.
She then completed the challenge on June 30, marking the 100th day of lockdown.
The challenge involved Bethan, who has Osgood Schlatters disease in both her knees, climbing up 3871 flights of stairs in 38 days at her home.
By the end of June, she had achieved her goal of climbing Everest, clocking up several other mini challenges along the way by climbing the equivalent in stairs of other mountains such as Mount Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Ben Nevis.
Through these efforts,
Bethan raised £1,075 for the charity.
But that’s not all, prior to starting the Everest Challenge, as we all went into lockdown, she also arranged for a five-car convoy of donations for the branch from friends and neighbours.
Her aim was to provide much-needed goods to Calan DVS refuges, organising the deliveries in convoy form to raise awareness of the work carried out by Calan DVS.
Bethan said: “I admire the work that the team at Calan does within the community to support victims of domestic violence and abuse, including families.
“Not many people think to support charities like Calan so, in addition to the convoy of goods, I wanted to spend my time during lockdown supporting a little known but worthy charity.
“The Everest Challenge was ideal as it helped to keep me fit, despite the problems with my knees, whilst raising funds at the same time.
“I can’t thank all the people who supported me enough and I’m looking forward to the next challenge I can come up with.”
The team at Calan DVS in Ammanford will be using the funds raised by Bethan to support individuals accessing accommodation and community services.