AN Alton GP has scaled the highest peak in Africa to raise almost £5,000 to support the development of a £3m hospice in Winchester.
Last month, Dr Sally Louden of The Wilson Practice (Alton Health Centre) made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,985m above sea level) as part of an all-female team intent on raising the final 25 per cent needed to enable the hospice to open in 2020.
In an amazing adventure that saw one team member winched by helicopter off the dormant volcano and another fall victim to altitude sickness, Sally was one of 15 intrepid women who made it to the summit, despite fresh snow on the final part of the ascent making conditions treacherous, and much slower than anticipated.
“It is the hardest thing I have ever done!” Dr Louden proclaimed of the mountain camping and the five-and-a-half days up, day-and-a half down route that was part-trek, part-scramble and part-climb.
While there are hospices in Basingstoke and nearby Farnham there has never been a hospice in Winchester and, with a growing and ageing population, there is always pressure on beds and resources.
The hospice movement is an entirely charitable endeavour – hospices are not funded by the NHS – and Dr Louden has expressed thanks to all those who have supported her.
There is still time to support Dr Louden by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sally-Louden2 or you can drop a cheque (payable to Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity) in to The Wilson Practice reception.
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