 Our objective is to rid the world of Polio
Bill Gates has offered to donate $350m to cure Polio if Rotary International can raise $100m by June 2012 - Rotary International has organised a
20 year campaign to eradicate Polio.
As part of Rotary, we are planning to raise $1 million by organising professionally led climbing expeditions to Mount Aconcagua - at 23,000 ft the highest peak in the western hemisphere and one of the world's famous "seven summits". The climb will take place in 2010. Each climber has to raise $50,000 in sponsorship to make the climb. There are 20 climbers per ascent so each climb raises $1m.
We hope this will become an annual event, raising $1 million each year.
Latest Team Update
The team is now returning
from their successful climb of Mount Aconcagua. , Photos of their return can
be found here
By J.P. Squire
Monday, December 21, 2009
"You breathe and you breathe and you breathe. And then you
take a step."
Finbar O'Sullivan's vivid description of climbing
23,000-foot Mount Aconcagua, the tallest peak in North and
South America, only tells part of the story of a group of
middle-aged Kelowna adventurers who have raised nearly
$50,000 to battle polio.
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"It was physically brutal. It was probably
one of the hardest things I think I've ever done," said
O'Sullivan, 56, on Sunday as he relaxed in beautiful spring
sunshine at a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina.
"We had a really, really good two-day window at the high
camp and we went for it. It turned out to be the best thing
we ever did because the following day the winds picked up.
"The area is notorious for its huge, huge winds - 70
m.p.h.-plus. We just did it on a perfect day."
The final day of the Peaks for Polio climb on Wednesday was
long and laborious, 16 hours from the high base camp at
19,500 feet to the summit and back, recalled O'Sullivan.
"The last 1,000 feet was up this gully, which was brutal to
say the least. The wind was really blowing strong. God, it
was cold. When we got to the top, the winds had died off and
it was probably around -15 C."
O'Sullivan said that if he takes anything away from this
unique place, it would be the spectacular view from the
summit and its merciless wind.
"You can look right across the Andes. At 23,000 feet in the
air, there's nothing higher in the western hemisphere which
is mind-blowing. But the downside to it is there is nothing
to stop the winds. And the wind is just like a chainsaw
cutting through you, no matter how much good gear you've
got."
As O'Sullivan stood at the summit with fellow climber Dan
Fogden, a mix of emotions washed over him. "It was probably
one of the most emotionally draining things ever because
you've made it; we're here. It had been over two years to
get to where we were between the planning, getting the gear
and sponsors."
However, within 30 seconds, he felt "absolute elation. This
emotional high that you're standing on top of the western
hemisphere, and then, after about 15 minutes at the summit,
reality kicks back in, and it's like: 'Get your ass down or
else you're going to freeze to death.'"
It was certainly one of the crowning moments of his life,
most of it spent as a rock climber primarily and as a
mountaineer.
The heart-breaking part was Gord Savage, 60, the third
climber to attempt the summit but falling short, even though
he is "a very, very fit individual," O'Sullivan said.
"Altitude sickness got him. You could just see him grinding
down and grinding down as he was trying to get higher. He
was only
several hundred feet from the summit, but he just couldn't
make it. Saying that, it's also a lot of mountain.
Sometimes, it's just not meant to be."
There was no way to carry Savage to the top since the gully
was at a 45-degree incline and full of snow and ice.
"Take the Cliff at Big White (Ski Resort), which is probably
around 38-40 degrees, tip it another five degrees and move
that to
22,000 feet. Then throw in huge winds," said O'Sullivan.
By comparison, Fogden has no mountaineering background, but
is just "a very, very driven, very focused individual. He
had the courage to put one foot in front of the other and he
never got altitude sickness. He just made it on straight
guts, so I respect this
person immensely."
O'Sullivan also paid tribute to their guide, Laurie Skreslet,
60, of Alberta, the first Canadian to summit Mt. Everest in
1982. He has climbed Aconcagua 27 times.
"It was his expertise and local knowledge that really paid
off in the end. Once you get around 18,000 feet, it becomes
a totally different journey. Once you get above 20,000 feet,
these barriers just suck the living life out of you," he
said.
"Imagine pedaling a mountain bike to the top of a hill until
your lungs are all set to explode and you just can't breathe
no matter how much you try. Now start walking, buddy. That's
what stopped Gord."
"He had me in tears when he told me about Gord," said
Finbar's wife, Mohini Singh.
"Gord was so strong, so passionate about the trip and he had
been working so hard to make it. I am extremely proud of
Finbar. Bear in mind, he has weak knees and wears a brace.
It is an incredible achievement and to do it for a cause.
They are just average people like you and me, but they are
all winners."
O'Sullivan joined the Rotary Club (downtown) of Kelowna
because of Rotary International's 20-year drive to eradicate
polio. The World Health Organization came on board, followed
by the Bill Gates Foundation.
The foundation will match the $50,000 raised to date for a
total donation of $100,000 - enough to immunize 200,000
children in India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, where
pockets of the viral disease remain.
O'Sullivan wanted Rotarians to summit Mount Aconcagua - one
of the Seven Summits, the tallest mountains on each
continent - as a pilot project and then organize more Peaks
for Polio climbs. Each future participant would raise
$50,000 so the next 20 climbers could raise $1 million.
The seven Kelowna climbers, who all paid their own way and
will return to Kelowna on Thursday, were O'Sullivan, Fogden,
Savage, Maureen Savage, Linda Frandsen and Dean and Wanda
McLay. Most are members of the Rotary Club of Kelowna.
To make a donation, go online to www.peaksforpolio.com.
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The Team have sent photos which can be seen here
So watch this space and please donate.
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