By Amy Pollock
TWO local women are celebrating after completing a challenging 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp.
Friends Sally Garrett (74) and Kerry Wade (52) have returned to Newtownards safe and sound after accomplishing the mammoth task which saw them trek in through glacial valleys, rugged trails and ancient villages to reach base camp in Nepal.
Now back to home comforts after fulfilling their bucket list dream, both Kerry and Sally described their experience as an ‘amazing’ once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Said Kerry: “It was so tough but so exciting at the same time. While the climate and the terrain were really challenging, at the same time, the scenery was absolutely beautiful, and you’re walking in the middle of the Himalayas and it just feels unreal that you’re there.
“It felt incredible, even though it was quite difficult to breathe because there’s only 50% oxygen at Everest Base Camp, but there were other people there celebrating with us and it was just a wonderful sense of achievement at the end.”
Sally said: “It was hard, but every day we saw something new that I won’t ever forget. The whole experience was just absolutely amazing.”
In preparation for their venture, the duo said they made the most of their local surroundings when training for the trek, which covered over 8000m/26,500ft of ascent and descent.
“I spent the last year walking as many hills as I could find – Scrabo Tower, Killynether, and regularly up the Mournes as well because there’s so many beautiful mountains in this country, you might as well make the most of them,” said Kerry.
While Sally also took on plenty of hillwalking routes, including Tullynagardy, Cave Hill and Black Mountain, she also built up her strength through step classes and HYROX races.
“Anywhere there was a hill – I walked it,” said Sally.
The ambitious pair, who met at church, decided to collectively push their limits in aid of two different charities, together raising over £6,800 to be split between Motor Neurone Disease Association NI and Friends of Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda.
On her JustGiving page, Sally wrote about how she was doing the trek in loving memory of her childhood friend, Maureen Beattie: “We had been friends from school and I just loved her. She was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, and sadly she passed away
in November 2017.
“Having helped nurse and care for Maureen over the years, seeing first-hand the work MNDA NI does for families, I wanted to support them as it is a charity very close to my heart.”
For Kerry, she said having the chance to visit Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda as part of a healthcare team through the South Eastern Trust last October was what spurred her on to raise vital funds.
“During our time there, we were able to witness the incredible dedication of staff across all departments, working tirelessly to deliver competent and professional healthcare in a resource-limited, rural area of Uganda. Their commitment to serving both the hospital and the surrounding communities was truly humbling and inspiring,” she said.
Having finished the most remarkable feat of their lives, both ladies said they want to extend their thanks to everyone who has supported them throughout their training and fundraising efforts.
Said Kerry: “While Sally and I were out there, so many people said they were thinking about us and we genuinely couldn’t have done it without all the support back home – that honestly really helped us through the tough times.”
Sally added: “I’d just love to thank everybody for their encouragement. The response has been amazing and it’s very humbling to think that so many people have given, including a whole lot of people I don’t know.”
She said that without Kerry, her experience of trekking Everest Base Camp wouldn’t have been the same. “I’m just glad that everything went well for Kerry and I – she was absolutely amazing and we walked really well together and our friendship is just something that I know is going to last the rest of my life.”
Those wishing to donate to Sally and Kerry’s causes can still do so via JustGiving at www.justgiving.com/page/sally-garrett-1 and www.justgiving.com/page/kerry-wade-1
