Sussex NHS staff and volunteers are conquering Everest to raise funds for hepatitis trust

Having climbed the Yorkshire Three Peaks for World Hepatitis Day 2019, The Hepatitis C Trust this year set its sights on collectively climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest’s 8,848 metres.

Groups are tackling climbs from Scotland down to Devon to raise money for The Hepatitis C Trust and the mental health charity Mind.

Taking part on Tuesday , July 28, is the Sussex Hepatitis C Operational Delivery Network which delivers hepatitis C treatment in a range of hospitals, including St Richard’s in Chichester and Worthing, primary care and community locations such as drug and alcohol services, HMP Lewes and homeless hostels in order to eliminate hep C as a public health threat by 2025 (the NHS England target).

The group is walking from the woods in Wild Park, Brighton, to the Trig point on Hollingbury golf course. At the high point (178m above sea level) the plan is to stop for a socially distanced picnic, bringing together people from a number of backgrounds and organisations working to eliminate hepatitis C.

In line with The Hepatitis C Trust’s ambition to ‘leave no one behind’ on the way to elimination, those who cannot attend an outdoor climbs, including the Trust’s volunteer prison peers, will contribute by doing step-ups and climbing staircases.

After completing the climb, those taking part will enjoy a socially distanced picnic, connecting with others across the country via video technology.

Plans are in place for national landmarks, including the Penshaw Monument and The Angel of the North, to be lit up purple to mark the day and a series of DJ sets livestreamed via Zoom on Sunday. Peer support staff and volunteers will also be taking part in local testing and awareness-raising initiatives across the country during the week.

Money raised through the World Hepatitis Day activity will be split between The Hepatitis C Trust’s peer-to-peer support volunteer programme and the mental health charity Mind, in recognition of the mental health impacts of lockdown restrictions and the crucial role Mind plays as a source of support for those experiencing mental health problems.

If you want to sponsor the walk please go to: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/Challengeeverest

It’s estimated that 147,000 people in the UK are chronically infected with hepatitis C, with two thirds currently undiagnosed.

Brighton has the highest mortality from HCV related liver disease and liver cancer in the south-east.

Injecting drug use is the most common risk factor for HCV infection, being cited in 90 per cent of laboratory reports. Other high risk factors for HCV include homelessness (35 per cent), alcohol abuse (17 per cent), and imprisonment (five per cent) (Public Health England 2020).

Untreated, HCV can cause serious liver complications including chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer and death.

If you know someone in need of support, encourage them to call the Trust’s confidential helpline number on 020 7089 6221. The Hepatitis C Trust and Sussex hepatitis C Network are also available on Twitter.