Mary Ann Evans Hospice
MEDICS SIGN UP TO EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK TO RAISE FUNDS
Coventry and Warwickshire medics Peter Handslip and Bob Grieve are in training for a gruelling trek to Everest base camp to raise funds for a Warwickshire hospice.
The pair will climb more than 5,545m, or 18,000 ft over 13 days to raise funds for the Mary Ann Evans Hospice in Nuneaton.
It is the fifth Himalayan trek for Peter, a Consultant Respiratory Physician who worked at the George Eliot Hospital for 33 years.
He has also completed around eight, 4,000 metre climbs in the Alps, including Mont Blanc.
Training is already underway for Peter and his fellow WPH Charitable Trust colleague Bob, a retired Professor of Oncology who worked at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.
While Peter is working out in the gym three times a week and regularly cycling or hillwalking, Bob has been climbing mountains in Vancouver and taking in some of the most picturesque parts of the UK with walks of 15 to 20 kilometres in Southern Cork, the Peak District and the Malvern Hills amongst other areas.
Peter, who is a Trustee at the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, said he and Bob were now among 20 trekkers (including 15 medics) from both the UK and India taking part in the challenge, in the hope of raising £70,000 for the hospice.
He said: “The hospice needs to raise funds for an innovative service to end-of-life patients. This Rapid Response Service provides care to patients and their carers within one hour, giving support at home. It has resulted in a reduction in hospital admissions and has allowed more than 95% of these patients to end their lives peacefully at home rather than in hospital. All trekkers are self funded meaning that all the money raised in this challenge will be used to expand the service to cover both day and night.
“At 70 this will probably be last my last Himalayan venture so I thought it would be a great way to raise funds for the hospice.”
Bob added: “Having worked as a clinical oncologist for over 30 years I was very well aware of the issues confronting patients in North Warwickshire. However it was especially brought home to me recently by two friends who had to face up to the difficulties of home care provision so I was delighted to join the Everest challenge for such a good cause.”
To sponsor, log on to http://www.justgiving.com/Peter-Handslip
