Mark’s youthful ambition to scale Everest
Mark, 26, from Rhebogue in Limerick hopes to raise money for the Shane Geoghegan Trust through his adventure.
Mark said yesterday: “The first Irishman to summit Mount Everest was Pat Falvey in 1993.
“Last year 13-year-old American Jordan Romero made history when he became the youngest person in the world to summit Everest.
“To date, the youngest Irish person to summit Everest is Cork woman Samantha Carroll, who reached the summit in 2004, aged 28. If successful, I will be aged 27 on reaching the summit next year.”
The challenge posed by Everest has made it a goal for climbers since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
Mr Quinn has been an active charity fundraiser since leaving school and his efforts have seen him jump from a plane at 10,000 feet and run a full marathon.
He said his latest idea was inspired by a number of things, not least the immortal words of George Leigh Mallory on being asked by a reporter in 1923 why he so desired to climb Mount Everest, replied: “Because it is there.”
Mark’s road to Everest has brought him around the world from Poland to Argentina.
Earlier this year, he successfully reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua in the Argentinean Andes — a height of 6,962m above sea level and the highest point on the world outside of Asia.
On Everest, at over 8,000m, climbers enter the death zone, an altitude where there is only 33% of the oxygen present at sea level.
Blood thickens, risk of frostbite increases and brain function decreases as your body begins to shut down. It is only possible for most individuals to survive at this altitude with the aid of bottled oxygen. Summit day will represent a physical and mental battle the likes of which few human beings have experienced.
Mark says his training is both intensely physical and also psychological.
He added: “One important aspect for me is to raise funds for a charity that inspires me. The Shane Geoghegan Trust is a Limerick-based charity that raises funds for a variety of diversionary programmes for young people in Limerick City.
“These programmes target young people who may find themselves involved in criminal behaviour and offer them an alternative path.
“In a time of deep budget cuts that will do untold harm to future generations, organisations like the Geoghegan Trust are not just creating a future for young people otherwise forgotten about, they are actively saving lives and changing the social structure of Limerick City and I’m hoping to raise a lot of money to help them.”
To support Mark’s Mount Everest bid, an account has been opened in Ulster Bank, O’Connell St. Limerick; account number 10041826, sort code number 98-60-20 * www.highaltitudeireland.org
