I’d like to take the opportunity to thank my family, friends and neighbours, my coworker’s, the local TV and radio stations, the local newspapers, online newspapers and magazines, local journalists, my corporate sponsors, local businesses, and the Canadian Mental Health Association, especially the Volunteer Fundraising Committee and Jackie Ralph, my fundraising partner, for her tireless efforts to help me reach my goal of $29,035, and finally to you, the communities of Grey/Bruce, The Town of Blue Mountains and Simcoe County for all of your support and generous dollars that not only helped me to reach my goal, but to surpass it!!
On April 5th 2011, my trekking partner Mary Tatham and I made it to Mount Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 17,590 feet above sea level! It was quite a trip!
My journey began in October 2009, when I decided to do the Everest trek in honor of my son Ryan, who I had lost to suicide in 2006! The Trek would take place around the 5th anniversary of his death!
I made the decision then to raise money for the CMHA/GB for programs to help our youth struggling with mental illness, and starting this Fall, thanks to your generosity and support, several schools from Grey/Bruce will be taking part in a pilot project introducing Mental Health First Aid into their schools! To find out more about this wonderful program please visit http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/
It’s so important to recognize the symptoms of mental illness early, and more important to have the resources available to help! So thank you all once again for making it possible!
The trek was very challenging and I was happy that I had trained so hard! I also took the high altitude medication that was recommended, and as a result didn’t suffer many health problems. However, many people in our group didn’t take the Diamox, and as a result got very ill.
We lost our doctor on 4th day of trekking! He developed Cereberal Edema, which is life threatening, and had to be taken down the mountain, with the aid of 2 Sherpa. Two days later one of the women would have a mini stroke and would be evacuated by helicopter with our team leader! Two others suffering from high altitude sickness had to go to lower altitude, so 24 of 29 made it to base camp, but only 22 made it back down the mountain! Two more would be evacuated by helicopter, including my trekking partner Mary, who was suffering from a chronic lung infection and at that altitude with 50% less oxygen, she was struggling to breath! The other girl was dehydrated, and had lost vision in her right eye! Later we found out that she had to have heart surgery, due to a collapsed ventricle!
Everyone would fully recover and we met up in Katmandu after the trek, for the celebration dinner!
The trek was amazing! The scenery breath taking! The peace and serenity of the mountains, and the beautiful Yak’s are something I’ll never forget!
Reaching Base Camp was emotional for us all! We were there as a group of people fundraising for various causes including cancer, juvenile diabetes, and mental illness! I made a small memorial site for Ryan and scattered some of his ashes! Then made the long walk home!
The Nepalese people are the kindest most welcoming people I have ever met! Their children, the most beautiful!
Presently, I’m back in training for my next trip to the Himalayas, which will hopefully take place March 2013 and will be the summit of “Island Peak” or the Annapurna Ridge!!
Thank you all once again for making a difference and helping our youth!
Regards
Maggie Holmes