Richard hikes to Everest Base Camp to raise funds for wheelchair centre in Offaly

INTREPID Richard Ross, Manager of the Irish Wheelchair Association Centre in Ballinagar, has successfully completed his expedition to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak to raise finance for vital works at the centre.

The trek raised a whopping €6,000 for work at the centre with all Richard's trip costs being paid by himself.

The centre is badly in need of renovations, starting with the heating system which is on its knees.

Explained Richard: "We are also hoping to replace windows and doors. We are in for funding to help but we still need to raise in or around €15,000."

An experienced hiker, Richard has been to Scotland earlier this year doing a Winter Skills Training course ran by Mountaineering Ireland in preparation for Nepal.

He has also set up an iDonate page to try to raise funds for the centre and you can still support Everest Base Camp Challenge for IWA on iDonate.ie

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Speaking to the Tribune after his return to Ireland Richard said it "was a great trip. I found summit day on Island Peak very tough but otherwise it was fab. The trip went really well."

In total all 36 climbers from Mullingar Hiking Group made it to Everest Base Camp as did 14 of the 18 that attempted Island Peak summit.

Explained Richard: "It took approximately 14 hours up and down. We left soon after midnight and I summited at 9am, then back down around 2pm."

"There was quite a long technical section near the top which involved us clipping into fixed ropes for safety. A good bit of upper body strength was needed to pull ourselves up this part which took around three hours. But reaching the summit was just fantastic and we spent about 15min there before starting the long journey back down."

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"Overall it was a trip of a lifetime. It was a great experience to hike though Nepal.. a very poor country but a beautiful one. The people were very friendly and couldn’t enough for us. We stayed in tea houses every night apart form Island Peak summit night when we stayed in a tent. The days were quite warm but the nights were very cold, up to minus 15. I would recommend for anyone with a decent level of fitness to do Base Camp. You won’t regret it!"

Richard said he has been "blown away by the support I have received so far."

"The amount collected is gone over €6,000. However the cost of the anticipated renovations will be over €15,000 so it is all badly needed."

Meanwhile a plant sale and coffee morning takes place at the IWA Centre in Ballinagar on Tuesday next, May 27. See separate article for full details.