Riverwood’s O’Shea will trek to Mt Everest base camp to help DMD sufferers
WHEN Patrick O’Shea is challenged to the maximum during his climb to the Mt Everest base camp, he will be motivated by the people, including his nephew.
The Express
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WHEN Patrick O’Shea’s body is challenged to the maximum during his climb to the Mt Everest base camp, he will be motivated by the people, including his nephew, who are suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
The 53-year-old Riverwood travel agent will be doing his 16-day charity trek from tomorrow (October 9), and arrived in Kathmandu a few days earlier to get acclimatised.
“When I’m struggling on those long days at altitude, I’ll just think of the kids I’m raising money for,” said Mr O’Shea, who is fundraising for Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation.
“Their disease means they won’t get the chance to do anything like this, and I’m so lucky I can.
“My legs may hurt, but it will wear off … they don’t have the same luxury.”
The father of two has been training for this huge challenge for the past two years, and upped the serious training a few months ago.
His fitness routine includes walking up hills, running up stairwells, rowing machine workouts and 10km hikes every Sunday in different national parks around Sydney.
Mr O’Shea’s target through his GoFundMe page is $5545 — the highest elevation he will reach — but he is aiming for his “ super target of $18192, the highest altitude in feet that I reach”. Todate he has collected more than $4000.
“It’s a big challenge but one I have been wanting to do for a long time,” Mr O’Shea said.
“I chose Save our sons as my nephew has the disease and wanted to do something to raise funds for research.
“Save our sons also provide support for those families living with the disease, so they are doing a great job.
“The base camp is essentially the starting point for the expeditions that do climb Everest and this is a significant challenge in itself, due to the altitude.
“Base camp is at 5380m above sea level, at these altitudes Oxygen levels are around 25 per cent of what you get at sea level, so just walking is difficult.
“It takes 16 days to do the whole trek, and before we get to base camp, there are a couple of climbs at over 5500m and a crossing of the Cho La Pass which is at 5420m.
“Altitude sickness can be lethal and you can’t train to avoid it, but properly acclimatising can help avoid the affects. Its an unknown factor and affects people differently.
“I’m as fit as I can be, and am mentally prepared, so I’ll let the rest take care of itself.
“I am doing the trek with an expedition tour company.”
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