Global Angels Baruntse 2011

It’s now under a month till I leave for my pre-Everest expedition to climb Baruntse. At 7,129m Baruntse in the Khumbu region of Nepal is a huge undertaking, and hence perfect preparation for Everest in the spring of 2012. I have been working with Global Angels now for a year whilst in the build up to the Baruntse and Everest expeditions, and as such, have now launched my Global Angels fundraiser page in the lead up to my Baruntse climb. Global Angels, fronted by Molly Bedingfield, mother to singers Daniel and Natasha, is a charity which champions children’s causes all around the world which aims to make the world a kinder place for the future generations. Through Global Angels, many initiatives can be supported. As an athlete, and someone passionate about sport however, one project stuck out to me more than any other; it was Global Angels quest to provide water to every child on the planet who lacks it. Every athlete should know the consequences of dehydration, and how vital water is. Dehydration of just 2% loss of body weight from water loss is enough to impair sports performance, while only a 10% loss leads to circulatory collapse and heat stroke.

These are circumstances that many athletes with easy access to water face; so it’s hard to imagine the hardship that many children face, when they not only struggle to find any water at all, but the water they do find may be polluted and gives the risk of deadly water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. For millions of children around the world, there are only two choices; death by dehydration, or the risk of disease…This is where Global Angels comes in.

Global Angels fund projects in countries such as Kenya and Mozambique, where each year, hundreds of thousands of children are receiving clean and safe drinking water.

In places like Africa, solutions have to be long term, which is why Global Angels fund sustainable projects, so that clean water can be accessed by children for generations.

For every £10, Global Angels can provide at least one person with enough water for 20 years. With my sponsorship target to raise the height of Mount Everest (8848m) in pounds, at least 884 people will have access to clean water for 20 years.

To me, it was a clear choice to raise money for Global Angels water projects.

If you feel that this project is close to your heart, or feel you would like to help, I would be most grateful for any support you are able to give. Even if only £1 or 50p, any donation is a step closer to my target. Global Angels has a 100% promise, which states every penny of your money goes straight to the selected cause.

About me: Some of you may know me personally, however if not, here is a very brief description of what I am doing. I’m Matthew Dieumegard-Thornton, from Lincolnshire in the UK. In the summer of 2010, I made a life changing decision to pursue my lifelong dream of climbing Mount Everest. I started this dream by training in the Alps over the summer of 2010, and running my first marathon in September 2010. In January 2011, I did a technical Scottish winter, and in June-August 2011, embarked on a 23 day expedition to Peak Lenin, a 7,000m peak in Kyrgyzstan. I train for these expeditions every day, often with 2 gruelling sessions of swimming, running, cycling and S&C. On the 14^th October, I will leave London Heathrow for a 35 day expedition to climb Baruntse at 7,129m in Nepal, my main preparation before my Everest expedition in Spring 2012, where I will aim to summit the highest mountain on earth at 8,848m, becoming one of the youngest Britons to do so.

If you are able to help me, please go to http://www.globalangels.org/fundraiser/matthew and give what you can, no matter how small, every penny really does count. And even if you are unable to donate, please could you pass this to as many people as possible, who you think would be interested in helping, and be inspired by my climbs.

Thank you.

Matthew x