A Dundee man is to tackle Mont Blanc this summer to raise cash for a local charity that supports the bereaved.
David Henehan (31) will be making the ascent of the highest peak in western Europe in memory of a friend who died suddenly 18 months ago, leaving behind a toddler.
The child is David’s godson, and he has already climbed Ben Nevis to raise funds for the little boy.
In July, David will head for Geneva to scale his biggest mountain yet, setting himself a target of £3000 to raise on behalf of Cruse Bereavement, Dundee.
“I just think it is really important that there is a service out there available for people who are grieving,” he said.
David will be paying his own way on a guided expedition up Mont Blanc so all pledges will go straight to the charity.F
or the last five years David has worked all over the world installing wind turbines.
“Before I got into the turbines industry I used to work as a fitness instructor,” said David. “I am generally reasonably fit.”
He knows one of the most difficult things he will have to deal with in July is the lack of oxygen as he nears the top of the mountain.
“It is over 15,000ft,” he said. “Anything above 10,000ft is when lack of oxygen really affects the body. Up to now Ben Nevis is the highest I have climbed and that’s only 4400ft.”
David leaves for Geneva on July 14 and says it will probably take about five days to climb Mont Blanc, though the actual day he hopes to reach the summit is dependent on weather and choice of route up the mountain.
“As you ascend you have stopovers to allow your body to acclimatise to the lack of oxygen,” he said.
Photo by Flickr user DavidBaum.