Marie George, 39,
of the Stockland Green School, and her 18-year-old son Charlie, a former
Arthur Terry School head boy, hope to raise £10,000 for Lupus UK, following their ambitious climb on 6th August.
The plucky pair will begin
the 5,895m ascent in memory of Marie’s late mother, and Charlie’s grandmother, Lorraine,
who died from the autoimmune disease, Lupus, in 1991. The timing of the trek is
particularly fitting, as this year would have been Lorraine’s 60th
birthday.
In addition to the climb, Marie and Charlie’s fundraising
efforts have included taking part in the Birmingham Half Marathon and an 11,000ft
skydive. The headteacher’s nine-year-old son, Freddie, who attends Sutton’s Hill West Primary
School, even shaved his head to boost their current total to just under £7,000.
Marie said: “Mum left
a huge hole in my life and I work hard to keep her memory alive, with this in
mind I have embarked on a fundraising campaign to mark this milestone in her
life.”
The climb will take the pair seven days to complete, including
an extra acclimatisation day to hopefully give them the best chance of getting
to the summit.
Marie said: “We are both excited but nervous as it’s a huge undertaking. I am happy
to be doing this with Charlie as we have a great relationship, though Charlie
is most concerned about having to share a tent with me, as he says I snore!
“I never got an opportunity to do anything
like this with my mum, so we will be creating memories that will last with him
when I’m no longer around.”
Marie began
training to improve her fitness last year in preparation for the Birmingham
Half Marathon and continues to keep her stamina levels up by going to the gym,
running, swimming, playing netball and regular walking to wear in her walking
boots.
The trek is among a number of initiatives fearless
fundraisers Marie and Charlie have completed to raise money for the worthy
cause. In addition to the half marathon, skydive and head shaving, activities
have included a bingo & band night, Christmas card sales, raffles, auctions.
Marie’s mother, Lorraine, died following being diagnosed
with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) which is an autoimmune disease
affecting any part of the body as the
immune system attacks the body’s own cells and tissues. She was a local lady
who attended the Bishop Walsh School in Sutton Coldfield.
Marie said: “For my
mum, her Lupus affected her skin, joints, kidneys, lungs and her brain. She was
only finally diagnosed the week she actually died and her symptoms had
progressed too far to treat.
“There is no cure for Lupus,
however there are treatments which help to control the symptoms. Lupus
continues to affect my family as my cousin on my mum’s side of the family was
diagnosed in June 2002. My mum’s symptoms meant that a Lupus test was insisted
upon for my cousin and hers was diagnosed early. Although her Lupus is under
control at the moment, she often has flare ups which leave her very poorly.
“The trek will be an immense
personal challenge, but one I know my mum would be exceptionally proud of us
doing.”
Link to the article which has appeared in the local press
http://thephoenixnewspaper.com/articles/education-training/3208-fundraising-peak-erdington-headteacher-and-son-step-up-to-conquer-mount-kilimanjaro.html?highlight=WyJhcnRodXIiLCJhcnRodXIncyIsImFydGh1ciciLCJ0ZXJyeSIsImFydGh1ciB0ZXJyeSJd
Link to the article which has appeared in the local press
http://thephoenixnewspaper.com/articles/education-training/3208-fundraising-peak-erdington-headteacher-and-son-step-up-to-conquer-mount-kilimanjaro.html?highlight=WyJhcnRodXIiLCJhcnRodXIncyIsImFydGh1ciciLCJ0ZXJyeSIsImFydGh1ciB0ZXJyeSJd