100 000 Stairs of Hope event is taking place at the Westcliff Stairs in Joburg on December 14 and 15. The challenge team of 20 athletes will attempt to climb the equivalent height of Mt Everest 8840m (up and down) in just 36 hours. This will involve a daunting 100km stair climb of 100 000 stairs over 200 reps of the famous Westcliff Stairs.
Raymond Funnell the man behind the initiative is a Leukemia survivor; Raymond and his son Jayson are climbing the 7 summits together to bring awareness for the need of blood products and bone marrow donors. They successfully summited Mt Vinson in Antarctica in January this year, this was their fourth climb together. They are hoping to climb Mt Everest together in 2015 as a father-son team.
Raymond dreamt about this idea 18 months ago, he wondered what is would be like to climb Everest from sea level to top in a stair climbing challenge. As a reference, Everest base camp is 5,364 metres above sea level and the top is 8,840 metres above sea level.
The amount of stairs 100 000 also coincides with odds for finding a stem cell donor – 1 in 100 000!
Raymond Funnell and Juan Von Willigh
Juan Von Willigh who is one for the participants heard about the challenge through a friend who asked if he wanted to take part. He jumped for the opportunity. It was a moment of “insanity”, said Juan with a smile. He added that he likes to do anything that puts him out of his comfort zone especially if it is for a really good cause.The challenge will begin at 6am on Saturday and end at 6pm on Sunday. All participants have already begun training ahead of the mountainous challenge. Members of the public are invited to come and support this challenge and encourage the participants to keep on going throughout the 36 hours.
Raymond said that he is certain this will become an annual event, it could even(t) become a national event.
The Everest Challenge Team are looking for sponsors at R10/stair, funds raised through this event will assist The Sunflower Fund to recruit and pay the test costs for potential bone marrow stem cell donors to join the South African Bone Marrow Registry.
“This challenge offers hope to all South Africans diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders and chance of life,” says Raymond.
The Team boasts some incredible athletes and personalities, one of which is Sibusiso Vilane, the famous SA mountaineer, who has conquered Everest twice. Pamela Buckle, a travel and experience blogger; adventurer and radio presenter dubbed Little Miss Mission Impossible together with Shaun Taylor an extra-ordinary ultra-marathon challenger, also enthusiastically joined the team. Also participating is Boitumelo Mofokeng of Run Walk For Life Soweto and Sport For All Moroka.
To read more about all the athletes visit: https://www.facebook.com/EverestChallenge
How you can help:
The team is asking for the support of the South African public through donations of R10 per stair. The target will be to have 100 000 stairs sponsored. People may sponsor as many stairs as they wish. All donations can be paid directly to The Sunflower Fund; ABSA Bank; Account Number: 4051 834 719; Branch Code: 632005. Ref: Everest / Depositor’s Name. Sms the word “Stairs” to 39703 to donate R30.00. For more information on 100 000 Stairs of Hope event email lauren@sunflowerfund.org.za or how to become a bone marrow stem cell donor, call the toll free line on 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.
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