Peak performance: Climbers tell of their gruelling, exhausting mission for charity
IT was the toughest challenge they have ever had to face but three charity fund-raisers are now recovering after an epic climb to the summit of the world's sixth highest mountain.
Phil Purdy, of Smith House Lane, Lightcliffe, and his friends Peter Bailey and Jeff Crooke, successfully reached the peak of Cho Oyu in the Himalayas after an exhausting struggle to overcome exhaustion, ill-health and gruelling conditions in the ice and snow.
Their 8,201 metre (26,906 ft) climb to the roof of the world has already raised a staggering 97,000 for Cancer Research and they are confident of reaching their goal of 100,000. The money is going to support research into bladder cancer at St James's Hospital in Leeds.
Father-of-four Phil said: "I've lost half a finger through frostbite, a tooth and 10kg in weight! I feel and look 10 years older and it was the hardest thing I've done for such a sustained period.
"Every day I had doubts that I would be able to do it but somehow every day I just kept going. The exhaustion was almost overwhelming."
The three men were part of a team of 14 who made the attempt through mountaineering specialists Jagged Globe. Two of the climbers had to abandon the climb because of extreme exhaustion and problems with the extreme cold and one man died on the attempt.
"There was incredible camaraderie on the expedition but these setbacks did affect morale. These guys were the life and soul of the party and it was awful when they weren't there. There were people from a wide range of backgrounds on the trip, from transplant surgeons to engineers and a professor of physics – but on the mountain it didn't really matter what we did back at home."
Despite their months of tough training and preparation, the climbers were almost overwhelmed by the level of mental toughness and physical stamina that was required. "For example, the atmosphere was incredibly dry and we had to drink four litres of water a day to stop us dehydrating but the effort involved in physically collecting the snow and melting it to drink was completely draining.
"The changes in altitude really took their toll on us. I had a chest infection and a virus and lost a lot of weight. At times it felt as if we were shuffling along but we didn't have the energy to do anything else."
Phil and Peter, who until this year was a teacher in special education at the William Henry Smith School in Brighouse, have compelling reasons for attempting the climb. Phil, who works for Yorkshire Water, lost his father to lung cancer six years ago while Peter's wife, Margaret, had successful treatment for a rare form of adrenal cancer 10 years ago.
The three men left England on August 22 and spent several weeks in the Himalayas to acclimatise themselves to the conditions. "While we were in Tibet the Chinese authorities suddenly closed down the country to westerners and it became quite oppressive. We were told which hotels we could stay in, which routes we could take and what we could photograph. But the Tibetan people were lovely and very welcoming though they led incredibly hard lives."
While he was away, Phil was able to keep in touch with his wife Katherine and children – Tom, 17, Robert, 15, Andrew 13 and 10-year-old Madeleine – by email but once the expedition started its bid on the summit communication was impossible. They climbed through the night of September 23 and reached the summit at dawn the following day.
"I expected to feel a greater sense of elation but to be honest I was simply exhausted and dreading the reality of having to climb back down to base camp," said Phil. "I felt as if all the energy had been sucked out of my body and there was nothing left. It's only since I've got back that I've begun to realise what we achieved and what amazing things we saw. I'll never forget standing on the summit and watching the sun come up and seeing the curvature of the earth.
"What kept us going was the support from back home and our determination not to let down all the people who had helped us and sponsored us."
Fact file
At 8,201 metres Cho Oyu in the Himalayas is just 600 metres lower than Everest. In Tibetan folklore the name means 'Turquoise Goddess'.
The Cho Oyu 2009 expedition was funded through personal contacts, fundraising events and public appeals. All money raised will go directly to Cancer Research UK and specifically to fund Prof Maggie Knowles's research into bladder cancer at St James's Hospital, Leeds. On December 4 the three climbers will give a presentation at St James's Hospital to their sponsors, supporters and members of Prof Knowles's team.
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the UK. Each year almost 10,300 people are diagnosed with the disease and it claims more than 4,800 lives. It is more common in men than women.
To help the trio reach their target of 100,000 visit the website www.chooyu2009.co.uk
But the Tibetan people were lovely and very welcoming though they led incredibly hard lives.”
While he was away, Phil was able to keep in touch with his wife Katherine and children – Tom, 17, Robert, 15, Andrew 13 and 10-year-old Madeleine – by email but once the expedition started its bid on the summit communication was impossible. They climbed through the night of September 23 and reached the summit at dawn the following day.
“I expected to feel a greater sense of elation but to be honest I was simply exhausted and dreading the reality of having to climb back down to base camp,” said Phil. “I felt as if all the energy had been sucked out of my body and there was nothing left. It’s only since I’ve got back that I’ve begun to realise what we achieved and what amazing things we saw. I’ll never forget standing on the summit and watching the sun come up and seeing the curvature of the earth.
“What kept us going was the support from back home and our determination not to let down all the people who had helped us and sponsored us.”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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