Earlier in March, Funnell and a team of cyclists completed The Sunflower Tour of Light, an epic journey cycling 1500kms from Johannesburg to Cape Town and completing the journey with cycling The Cape Town Cycle Tour. Throughout the marathon trip, their aim was to raise awareness and funds for sufferers of leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders to assist The Sunflower Fund in growing the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).

A mere two weeks later, Funnell and his team of solo athletes as well as several relay teams, challenged Everest. This seemed like an impossible task, however the brave men and women, climbed relentlessly for a gruelling 36 hours with only short breaks to achieve 200 reps of the famous Westcliff Stairs in Johannesburg. This equated to 100km of stair climbing and 10 600m which far surpasses the height of Mt Everest. 

The Challenge took place over Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 March and has captured the hearts of many.

Funnell’s daughter, Kimberley Funnell who co-managed the project with him stated, “To me it’s always the little things that make this event so wonderful. There were the ladies who brought watermelon and potatoes for the athletes, many volunteers who were so willing to give of their time and of course each athlete cheering each other up and down the stairs even though they were in physical pain themselves. I watched athletes continue through the rain and into the night, pushing themselves far beyond their physical limits and the speeches from each team at the awards was so honest and true, you could feel the full emotion behind it. This comradery and team spirit came together so that we can make a difference in the lives of those suffering from dread diseases like leukaemia.”

Funnell has his own story to tell. He received a lifesaving bone marrow stem cell transplant from his brother, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. He realised that he was fortunate to have found a match and now Ray wants to help others find a perfect donor match by raising awareness and funds for The Sunflower Fund.

“I suffered through and endured a long two year battle for survival. I’ve just celebrated six years in remission which testifies that there is hope for leukaemia sufferers. This is my inspiration and realisation of a dream through The Everest Challenge. We may not be in the Himalayas, but this is still a daunting and gruelling challenge. Witnessing the team conquering this for the second time has been a truly humbling experience and I am honoured to be in the company of some incredible athletes and personalities,” says Funnell.

One such athlete was Sibusiso Vilane, the famous South African mountaineer who has conquered Everest twice. Other athletes include David Barnard, Armandt van den Berg,  Shaun “Horsepower” Naidoo as well as Andrew Lowndes and The Sunflower Fund’s CEO Tarryn Corlett to name a few. To read more, visit The Everest Challenge’s page on Facebook.

“There is a great synergy between this challenge of climbing 100 000 stairs and the struggle that patients face when searching for their life-saving donor match” adds Tarryn Corlett, chief executive officer for The Sunflower Fund. “For most patients, the odds of finding their life saving match, within their ethnic group is 1 in 100 000. This is a daunting task and again much like this challenge, with passion, dedication and determination; together we can make a difference and save more lives.  This challenge offers hope to those diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders and offers a chance of life.”

Every year thousands of South Africans are diagnosed with leukaemia and other life threatening blood disorders. For many patients unable to stay in remission with chemotherapy alone, a bone marrow stem cell transplant becomes a life-saving treatment.
 
Funds raised through this event will assist The Sunflower Fund to educate, recruit and pay the test costs for potential bone marrow stem cell donors to join the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

The team is asking for the support of the South African public through donations of R10 per stair. The target will be to have 100 000 stairs sponsored. This equates to 500 new donors joining The South African Bone Marrow Registry.

All donations can be paid directly to: The Sunflower Fund; ABSA Bank; Account Number: 4051 834 719; Branch Code: 632005.  Ref: Everest/Depositor’s Name. 

SMS the word “Stairs” to 40555 to donate R20.

For more information on The Everest Challenge, email [email protected], or how to become a bone marrow stem cell donor, phone the toll free line on 0800 12 10 82 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za.