Introduction

The plan

To raise £6500+ for the MS Trust

In 2013 I plan to travel from the UK to Lukla in the Himalayas to take part in the Jagged Globe's autumn Khumbu Climber expedition (place and dates to be confirmed). This is a highly active expedition aiming to climb three major peaks in the Everest Region including Pokalde (5,806m), Island Peak (6,189m) and Lobuje East (6,119m). It provides an opportunity to climb in the shadow of the world's highest mountains while taking in one of the most famous treks in the Himalaya as part of a superb circuit..

Khumbu Diaries from Alexandre Buisse on Vimeo.

The twist

After recently turning 33 I have gained a little more than what could be classed as a desired amount midlife spread. To further complicate my bid other than some basic climbing experience as a teenager, I have done nothing like this before so this is by no means a small challenge.

Therefore through this blog I aim to track my diary, the highs the lows and ultimately my progress towards tackling one of the most inhospitable regions in the world.

Training for this I hope will be life changing, like most people I HATE the gym and certainly don’t have the body to “flaunt my stuff”. Therefore I plan to train and hopefully at the same time developed certain skills needed through activities such as rock climbing, mountaineering, and trekking in the UK, coupled with the dreaded sport of jogging to build stamina.

This personal training will be backed up with two winter mountaineering courses in Scotland, to develop the necessary skills prior to the final expedition (place and dates to be confirmed).

The obvious question … why?

As a teenager I was fortunate enough to travel extensively the USA, Europe and Australia, coupled with a family who loved the outdoors I was well and truly infected with the travel and adventure bug and this has never truly left me.

However in the Mid 90s both my Mum and Uncle were diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis and as there two people were instrumental in my pursuit of various outdoor activities I slowly stopped my adventures. In my late teens I was lucky enough to become a father to a beautiful baby girl, and my concentration moved from self discovery to raising a family.

Some 14 years later my personal life has changed and although a still a family man the kids are growing up (apparently) and the desire to travel has started to return, but where to start?

Well one person when I was growing up demonstrated the spirit of the adventurer and explorer, more than anyone else I knew although I never joined him for a mountaineering expedition. Although my uncle is now longer able to do what he once loved, he is still a source of HUGE inspiration and therefore a trip into this region seemed the obvious decision.

The Charity

Multipe Sclerosis is a disease that before it affected my family, I had very little knowledge of or exposure to, however;

• More than 100,000 people in the UK have multiple sclerosis (MS)
• More women then men are diagnosed with MS
• Multiple sclerosis is not inherited, but family members do have a slightly higher risk of developing MS
• It is usually diagnosed when people are in their 20s and 30s
• MS is a disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)
• Symptoms can come and go and can vary greatly in terms of severity
• There may be periods of relapse of varying length and severity
• Everyone's MS is different
• MS is not a fatal condition
• It is neither infectious nor contagious
• Most people diagnosed with MS will not need to use a wheelchair on a regular basis
• At present, there is no cure for MS but this certainly doesn't mean that the symptoms of MS cannot be treated

Therefore I decided that if is was going to attempt this expedition, the only sensible option was to try and raise money for charity and there was only one obvious choice the MS Trust

If you are interested in donating please go to Virgin Money  

 I am looking to raise a minimum of £6,500 part of which will cover the cost of the final expedition, and I will be personally funding all training and registration fees at an estimated total cost of £2000.