Public support sought to conquer Everest

A GUTSY sales and marketing manager who is determined to become the first Irish woman to climb Everest is looking for the public’s support.

Bridget Rossiter-O'Flynn from New Ross in Wexford needs €30,000 to finance her dream. She's been in training for the mammoth feat for over a year and is determined the financial hurdle will not scupper her plans.

She's not put off by chilling reminders that one in six who attempt Everest die in the process, most of them on the descent. And she's fully aware of the dangers which lie ahead.

Her husband, Anthony O'Flynn, who works in customer service with AOL in Waterford, is behind her all the way and will be in constant touch with her via satellite phone as she attempts the feat in mid-May. "Anthony knows I'm very ambitious. We don't have children. I'm the mother of two dogs a springer and a cross between a labrador and red setter. I bring the dogs on the mountains with me as much as possible and they're great company. "I've spent the past week training with the mountaineering section of the army in Cork and am in the gym at the moment, building up my upper body muscle. I train for about three hours every night, be it running, walking or climbing," said the Waterford Manor Hotel employee.

Bridget leaves on February 29 and hopes to make it to the summit some time around mid-May. She won't be alone on the trek and will be roped in with five others including Kerry man Michael Long, an experienced climber who lives in Killarney.

"I'm desperately trying to put on weight at the moment and am eating all round me. We'll have guides on the trip with us and they'll be doing all the cooking for us. We'll mostly eat potatoes be they boiled, roasted or chipped, as well as a lot of rice. You can't bring meat on a journey like this. But I'll have my few bags of Tayto Cheese and Onion. I wouldn't go anywhere without them."

The Wexford woman has already climbed Kilimanjaro twice and made it as far as base camp last year. "I'm very hopeful that I'll make it. But, if I fail, I won't go back again. Its taken me so much hard work and training to get this far that I just couldn't go through it all again."

She has no plans to celebrate on top of Everest, should she get there.

"It'll be so dead at the top that my only thought will probably be, please take my picture and get me down. I'll do my celebrating when I do get down," she added.

The hotel sales and marketing manager says she'll display all the logos of her various sponsors at the summit. And she's urged anyone who wants to support her to contact her as soon as possible on [phone].