By Helena Adeloju
Local climbers will scale almost a quarter of the height of Mt Everest by hand next week to raise money for a charity in Berwick.
UFT Playgrounds will host the Rope Climbs to Everest event on Saturday 29 April to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health advocacy organisation ALIVE Crusade.
UFT Playgrounds manager Sheena Mabilangan said that the Enterprise Avenue facility had hosted the event for the past four years but this year it had upped the ante.
“This is the first year we are trying to climb 20,000 metres,” she said.
A total of $10,000 was raised last year when the UFT Playgrounds team climbed 10,000 metres.
This year the team members are doubling their efforts and aiming to raise $20,000.
Ms Mabilangan said the climbers were expecting to be sore during and after the event, but putting themselves in the shoes of those they are raising money for made it worthwhile.
“People who go through mental illness experience the burden of what can feel like a never-ending challenge,” she said.
The day will also include food, drinks and live music, including performances by Georgina Denton who featured in the under-25 girls category of the X-Factor in 2015.
Ms Mabilangan said everyone is welcome to come along and lend their support to the fundraising effort by registering as a climber, volunteering on the day or by making a donation.
Register for a ticket package at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rope-climbs-to-everest-2017-tickets-32221128262.
Donate at www.gofundme.com/ropeclimbstoeverest2017.
