MAR 13 - Gregory Attard, one of three adventurers from Malta planning to climb Mount Everest in aid of a cause, left Malta yesterday on his way to Nepal.

The Challenge 8000 team is made up of the trio of Maltese climbers, engineer Marco Cremona, medical doctor Greg Attard and business systems consultant Robert Gatt.

They will be attempting to climb Mt Everest, the highest mountain in the world, around 15 May.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Cremona said that the adventure actually started two years ago with many preparations. It peaked when last October the trio climbed Mt Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world, 20 km west of Mount Everest.

He said that the team will be meeting in Khatmandu in Nepal on 29 March. A support crew of eight people who will accompany the mountaineers until base camp on Mt Everest will accompany the team. The contingent will take an internal flight to base camp on 2 April, where they will meet a professional mountaineering guide, typically known as Sherpa who will guide them up the mountain.

During the 10-week long ascent, the team will experience temperatures of -45°C coupled with gale force winds near the summit, hours of strenuous climbing and days of trekking in order to achieve their objective and place the Maltese flag on the highest point on earth.

Challenge 8000 are doing all this in aid of NGO Richmond Foundation. All donations are in aid of the foundation, the local NGO (Charity Registration No VO/0017) working in the provision of community services for persons with mental health difficulties and in the promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental illness among the public.

via The Malta Independent Online

 

Posted on: 2010-03-13 08:54

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