Alan first decided to attempt an ascent of Everest over 10 years ago and has been working and training towards this lifelong mountaineering ambition since. In the year leading up to his expedition date Alan opted to ask others to sponsor him in support of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Glasgow which provides practical and emotional support, information and advice to over 12,000 people from across the West of Scotland each year. Just prior to leaving for the Himalaya’s in March, Alan visited the centre to show staff, volunteers and centre users the type of equipment and specially designed clothing needed for such a journey and had a Maggie’s prayer flag designed which he has since left at the top of the world’s highest mountain.

This particular ascent of Everest was organised by exploration company Jagged Globe. In total ten experienced mountaineers, two Jagged Globe expedition leaders and eight local Sherpa’s formed the team which successfully saw all of them reach the summit throughout the month of May. Of the ten climbers that arrived in Kathmandu to begin this epic journey; Alan alongside five other mountaineers , two expedition leaders and seven Sherpa’s successfully summated between 6am and 6.25am on the 16th May 2011.

The remaining four climbers plus two of the Sherpa’s (one of whom had already summated with the first part of the group) successfully completed there ascent on the 25th May after taking additional time to acclimatise and prepare their bodies for the notoriously difficult climb. This second group included fellow Scot Adam Potter, 36 from Glasgow who made the headline’s after surviving a horrific 1000ft fall near Ben Nevis on a training climb in January 2011.

All group members have now successfully descended to the safety of Everest Base Camp but were reminded of the potential dangers of the climb when Jagged Globe leaders and Sherpa’s were involved in the rescue attempt of two Spanish climbers. Alan’s family at home are cautiously celebrating such a lifelong achievement but are holding off on the champagne until Alan returns to Scotland in early June.

Caroline Miller, Community Fundraiser for Maggie’s Glasgow Said:

“Alan has been supporting Maggie’s for a number of years. It has been his lifelong ambition to stand at the top of the world and we are honoured that he has chosen to support Maggie’s Glasgow in this way. It has been our pleasure to support Alan throughout his training and we are completely overwhelmed at the lengths he has gone to in support of our Glasgow centre. Alan’s journey has inspired many of the staff, volunteers and centre users who continue to forward messages of congratulations and wishes to him through our centre and social media pages. We would like to wish him and his expedition party every congratulations and safe journey’s home.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

• You can sponsor Alan by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/AlanEverest-2011
• Jagged Globes full expedition Commentary can be found by visiting http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/

• Maggie’s Glasgow opened in 2002, the second centre in a network that now includes centres in Edinburgh, Dundee, Highlands, Fife, London and Cheltenham.
• There are currently two interim Maggie’s services with building projects scheduled to begin in 2011. These are based within Lanarkshire and Oxford.
• Three other centres are currently being built. These are in South West Wales, Nottingham and a new centre for Glasgow at Gartnavel General Hospital.
• Glasgow will be the first city in the UK to have two Maggie’s Centres.
• Each year 8000 people from across Glasgow are diagnosed with cancer.
• Last year Maggie’s Glasgow supported over 12,000 individuals and it is estimated the centre will be supporting over 14,000 by 2012.
• On average it costs over £360,000 to provide our programme of care and support.

For Further Information Please Contact
Caroline Miller
Community Fundraiser
Maggie’s Glasgow
The Gatehouse
10 Dumbarton Road
Glasgow
G11 6PA

0141 330 3368
07825056389
Caroline.miller@maggiescentres.org