If you’re going to climb Everest, they say preparation is key. A once-in-a-lifetime challenge, you’ll encounter endless life-threatening dangers that will push you to your physical and mental limits. The sooner you start training, the better.
Becky Bellworthy, from Romsey in Hampshire, certainly took this advice to heart: an aspiring adventurer, she began her training at the age of three.
“I was climbing trees all the time. It scared the living daylights out of my parents,” says Becky, now aged 19.
Sixteen years later, with several Duke of Edinburgh awards and months of grueling preparation in the bag, Becky’s lifelong dream of being the youngest British female to climb Everest is about to become a reality.
“It was around the beginning of 2010 that I finally decided it was time to do it. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I went ahead anyway. I quietly started a really intense training regime and climbed Mont Blanc. It got me completely hooked,” recalls Becky.
Now, after two years of thorough preparation, Becky is about to embark on her DHL-sponsored Everest Expedition challenge. In doing so, she’ll be battling jet stream winds, extreme temperatures and life-threatening altitudes.
But at the forefront of Becky’s mind isn’t just the personal challenge that lies ahead. Driving her forward is a desire to help raise money for Depression Alliance, the UK’s leading charity for people with depression.
“Climbing Everest is a battle I’ve chosen to enter into, but for 1 in 5 people in the UK who suffer from a mental illness at some point in their life there’s no choice involved. Depression Alliance helps people with depression, promoting services that truly make a difference. I’m passionate about supporting them,” Becky explains.
A very worthy cause, we’re sure you’ll agree, so please do all you can to help raise funds and awareness by making a donation. After all, if climbing Everest at the age of 19 isn’t impressive enough to warrant a couple of quid, what is?
Find out more by visiting Becky’s website: www.beckybellworthy.com
To get the latest on Becky’s progress, follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/beckybellworthy
To discover more about the invaluable work Depression Alliance do, visit their website:http://www.depressionalliance.org/
To make a donation, click here