Andy Merry, a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, will be climbing Mont Blanc in June to raise funds for MS Trust and The Royal Marines Charity.
Here he explains more about the inspiration behind this mammoth challenge.
In early June 2017, a team of six men will attempt to climb Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps (4,809 m), in order to raise at least £60,000 for two charities: the MS Trust and The Royal Marines Charity. It is the intention to split the money raised 70/30 in favour of the MS Trust.
Five members of Team Mt Blanc for MS are former Royal Marines Commandos and between us we have extensive experience in operating in mountainous regions. The sixth member is my 20-year-old son Luke who at the time of the attempt will have completed a 4-month ski instructor’s course in Banff in the Canadian Rockies. Together my son and I have also climbed Mt Kinabalu (4,095 m) in Borneo.
In March of 2016 I was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). This came as a bit of a shock but I think deep down I knew the diagnosis was inevitable. I had been experiencing a number of symptoms for some time and used 'Doctor Google' to look at what they might mean, and MS became the prime suspect.
When I was told that I had MS I must admit to being somewhat relieved as I could now make sense of the symptoms I was experiencing and vowed to see the future as a glass half full. I spent 25 years in the Royal Marines and always strived to be the best I could be. I always pushed and challenged myself doing the most arduous courses in the most hostile environments and I now see MS as just another of these challenges.
It is my intention to be in Chamonix, France by 5 June 2017 and make the attempt on the mountain before 11 June 2017. I want to take a route that involves walking up the entire mountain and so intend to start in Chamonix rather than a route starting at the top of the cable car at l'Aiguille du Midi. The attempt is expected to take two days including a night in a mountain hut.
