The Lancaster University Mountaineering Club has celebrated a great turnout at The Climbers Against Cancer (CAC) event that took place in the Sport Centre on Monday, Week 4. It exceeded all the expectations regarding the number of participants with over 50 people attempting to defeat the height of Everest in order to raise funds for cancer-cure research.
The event was hosted by the club’s social secretaries Jess Hawthorne and Sammi Potton. Hawthorne commented on the success of the event:
“We were really surprised with the turn-out on Monday – we got way more people turning up to climb than we had originally anticipated!” she said. “We guessed that most people would be members of the Mountaineering Club already, and maybe a few of our friends could be persuaded to join us,” she continued, “we really didn’t think that the response would be so great, we had people joining in who had never climbed before which was really cool.”
“LUSU have been a huge help in making this whole thing possible,” said Jess. “Everyone we have been in contact with have been incredibly cooperative and generous,” she continued. “The event have gone ahead at all without the help of staff at LUSU Activities, and the cooperation of the sports centre.”
Even those, who don’t feel for climbing up Everest, have an option to contribute by purchasing a T-shirt or a hoodie from their online shop, or simply by making a donation.
CAC is, in fact, a local charity, founded by a Lancashire-based climber John Ellison. Once diagnosed with cancer at terminal stage, Ellison decided to dedicate himself to raising funds and awareness through this very special sport. CAC donates to five international research charities, one on each continents. It has only been running for a year, yet it has already gained a worldwide popularity, which is an unusual success for an independent charity.
CAC has many official supporters, such as the Workhouse Creative Marketing and the Planet Mountain.
On the CAC website, Ellison explains the link between climbing and charity. In climbing, people often depend on each other, which brings them closer together and makes them more supportive of each other.
Jess shares Ellison’s view and commented to SCAN that “[Ellison]…he noticed that in the climbing community there is a mutual desire to support and encourage each other to succeed. Regardless of nationality, creed or colour we are in many ways an extended family,” she described his inspiration, “We’ve noticed this attitude as a club too. No matter where we go, there are always friendly climbers willing to offer advice,” she continued. “I think this community attitude definitely helps when it comes to rallying together support for a cause.”
The Mountaineering Club Executives had a chance to meet Ellison personally and speak about his so unique views of life and all its attributes.
“John has adopted a great attitude towards his illness. He knows what he has is terminal,” Jess explained. “But he says that with the work he is doing now and the people he is getting to meet, he has never been happier.”
