The Everest Challenge awaits leukaemia survivor Ray Funnell

Funnell and his Team of solo athletes as well as several relay teams, will be climbing 100 000 stairs at the famous Westcliff Stairs in Johannesburg on Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 March. The total distance will be approximately 100km and over 200 reps which far surpasses the height of Mount Everest. A formidable 36 hours of stair climbing.
 
Funnell received a lifesaving bone marrow stem cell transplant from his brother, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. He realised that he was fortunate to have found a match and now he wants to help others find a perfect donor match by raising awareness and funds for The Sunflower Fund.

“I suffered through and endured a long two year battle for survival. I’ve just celebrated six years in remission which testifies that there is hope for leukaemia sufferers. This is my inspiration and realisation of a dream through The Everest Challenge. We may not be in the Himalayas, but this is still a daunting and gruelling challenge. Conquering this for the second time will be a truly humbling experience which leaves one in awe of the human spirit” says Funnell.

“There is a great synergy between this challenge of climbing 100 000 stairs and the struggle that patients face when searching for their life-saving donor match” adds Tarryn Corlett, chief executive officer for The Sunflower Fund. “For most patients, the odds of finding their life saving match, within their ethnic group is 1 in 100 000.”

Every year thousands of South Africans are diagnosed with leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders. For many patients unable to stay in remission with chemotherapy alone, a bone marrow stem cell transplant becomes a life-saving treatment. 

Funds raised through this event will assist The Sunflower Fund to educate, recruit and pay the test costs for potential bone marrow stem cell donors to join the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

“This challenge offers hope to those diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders and chance of life,” says Funnell.

The Team boasts some incredible athletes and personalities, one of which is Sibusiso Vilane, the famous South African mountaineer, who has conquered Everest twice. Other extra-ordinary inspiring athletes include David Barnard (desert ultra-marathon runner), Armandt van den Berg (Extreme Warrior runner) and Shaun “Horsepower” Naidoo (ultra-marathon runner) to name a few. To read more, visit the page on Facebook.

The team is asking for the support of the South African public through donations of R10 per stair. The target will be to have 100 000 stairs sponsored. This equates to 500 new donors joining The South African Bone Marrow Registry. 

All donations can be paid directly to: The Sunflower Fund; ABSA Bank; Account Number: 4051 834 719; Branch Code: 632005.  Ref: Everest/Depositor’s Name. 

SMS the word ‘ Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Stairs’ to 40555 to donate R20.

For more information on The Everest Challenge, email lauren@sunflowerfund.org.za or how to become a bone marrow stem cell donor, call the toll free line on 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.