We did it!

Date: 26/05/2009

Intrepid charity adventurers, Lynne and Noel Hanna, made history this week when they became the first married couple from Northern Ireland to reach the summit of Everest together.

Lynne and Noel set off on their momentous journey to raise funds for the Ulster Cancer Foundation on 31st March. Over the past two months they have shared their thoughts and updates as the expedition progressed.

Noel says, “The weather cleared allowing us to reach the summit on Thursday 21st May, led by the legendary Russian climber, our guide, Nicholay Cherhy. We shared the summit with our friend and fellow-climber Patrick Singh and another Russian guide Maksim Bogatirev.

“It was an amazing feeling to stand on top of the world. Lynne and I were both so glad that we made the summit together and have been safe over the past 8 weeks. We had decided this time around that if one of us took ill or was injured and couldn’t complete the climb that the other should continue with their summit attempt. Thankfully we didn’t need to continue alone!

“It was a record-breaking trip for all of us – we became the first married couple from Northern Ireland to summit together; Patrick Singh was the first Guyanian-born to climb mount Everest and Nickolay Cherny for the second time became the oldest Russian on top of Everest!”

After summiting the group started their descent to Base Camp (5100m) for a couple of days rest and then will proceed to Lukla to catch a flight back to Kathmandu.

Noel adds, “It’s hard to believe that our Everest expedition is coming to an end. It’s been an incredible experience – with many highs and lows. I think in the last couple of weeks we’ve only had about two or three hours sleep a night due to the low temperatures and high altitude. We’ve been living mainly on a diet of packet soup made with boiled snow but none of this put us off. Reaching the summit makes it all worthwhile in the end!”

Noel and Lynne Hanna are using their Everest expedition to help raise £150,000 for the Ulster Cancer Foundation’s ‘Personal Everest Project’ to fund a major new support programme for cancer patients and their families. If you would like to raise funds for the ‘Personal Everest Project’ why not register for UCF’s Ben Nevis Challenge which takes place over two fun packed weekends on 26th – 28th June or from 3rd – 5th July. You can trek to the top of the UK’s highest mountain which sits at 1,344 metres, and raise funds to help local people affected by cancer. The Ben Nevis challenge can be completed by anyone of average physical ability and even if you don’t feel you are fit enough there is still plenty of time to get training.

For further information please click on www.ulstercancer.org email personaleverest@ulstercancer.org or contact Sarah / Leonne at UCF on Tel. 028 9066 3281.