Gary Malcolm Scales Mountains For Disaster Relief

Intrepid local councillor heading to Everest base camp soon

Southfield Ward Lib Dem councillor Gary Malcolm is more used to dealing with 'on the ground' issues such as litter and parking problems on behalf of local residents.

He could never be accused of having his 'head in the clouds', unless it comes to his love of climbing mountains!

Now he is putting his love of trekking and climbing to use to raise funds for charity. He is part way to raising £1,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee. At times of overseas emergency the DEC brings together an alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors to ensure that funds raised go to DEC agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need. They have helped disasters around the world including Syria, famine regions the Nepal earthquake in 2015 and tsunamis.

Having climbed Gran Paradiso, the tallest mountain in Italy (over 4000 metres) and nearly getting up Mt Blanc, (he had to come down due to altitude sickness), Cllr Malcolm is hoping that people will be able to donate something to nudge him towards his £1,000 target.

He is continuing to train for his sixteen-day trek in October to Everest Basecamp in Nepal!

Says Gary: "A Norwegian mountaineer friend was caught up in Nepal half way up Mt Everest when the earthquake struck last year and he told me that Nepal needs visitors, tourists and mountaineers so I thought trekking there to at least see Mt Everest would be a wonderful way to raise money for DEC who do loads of good work all around the world."

You can donate to Gary through his Just Giving page.

August 31, 2016