Shoreham dad takes on virtual Everest climb – on his stairs

John Griffin, 53, has taken on the charity’s virtual challenge, Transforming Compassion Into Action, and is part way through climing Mount Everest at home.

The indoor ascent started on Tuesday and the aim is to complete 8,850m by Friday, by repeatedly climbing up the stairs.

John said: “The sight of empty supermarket shelves at the moment is scary for all of us. This must be even worse if your cupboards are empty and you have very little money to make shopping choices with.

“More people than ever will be turning to food banks to feed themselves during these unprecedented times and with in-shop donations stalling, you can help with a cash donation.

“I was disgusted to hear that the food bank trolley had to be removed from a local Tesco, as the contents were being stolen, quite possibly by people that could afford to purchase those items. Food banks need really our support more than ever.”

John has calculated an ascent of his stairs is 6.5m in 30 steps, so the challenge will require 1,361 ascents or 40,846 steps up. The summit is his roof terrace and John hopes to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

He said: “I think I will need all the support I can get as the house has steep stairs. I won’t be alone though, I will be accompanied part way by my loyal ‘Sherpa’ Houndslow, though he does have a bit of trouble with the stairs and he only has short paws.”

While John is at home with his 11-year-old daughter Daisy, his wife Niri is working on the frontline of coronavirus care as a GP.

John said: “Right now, we are piling a catastrophe on top of an already perilous situation. Many of the low-cost staples like pasta and rice are no longer even on the shelves. I wanted to find a way I could help raise money while still respecting the stay at home policy.

“Many of us are starting to realise that people are far more valuable than possessions. It has also become apparent how fragile the cocoons that we have surrounded ourselves with truly are.”

Transforming Compassion Into Action is a virtual fitness-focused challenge at home to help The Trussell Trust.

Kate Merrifield, events and mass participation manager, said: “April to September 2019 has proved to be the busiest half-year period for food bank in the Trussell Trust’s network since the charity opened.

“During these six months, 823,145 three-day emergency food parcels were given to people in crisis in the UK, more than a third of these (301,653) went to children.

“This is a 23% increase on the same period in 2018 - the sharpest rate of increase the charity has seen for the past five years. As the coronavirus outbreak develops, more people than ever could need our help.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/john-griffin19 to make a donation and follow Climb Everest At Home fundraiser for Food Banks on Facebook for updates.

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