World Record attempt in Everest to support Epilepsy Research UK

Image: Rik and Phil Waind in training

In March, a group of charity supporters are trekking to Kala Patthar, 5,545 metres (18,192 ft) below Mt Everest on the Nepalese side, en route to Base Camp, to raise money and awareness for Epilepsy Research UK. The Team are supporting the charity in memory of Jean Waind, who sadly passed away from SUDEP in January 2009.

The Prayer Flag Team are: Rik Waind, Phil Waind, John Waind, David Waind, Simon Waind Paul Bowmer, Chris Bowmer, Jonny Oliver, Chris Oliver, Adam Kelly, Stu Richardson, Fred Arden, Dan Greaves.

Rik Waind, son of the late Jean Waind says, "We are in contact with the Guinness Book of Records and our aim is to establish a world record for the longest string of prayer flags! Please join us in our world record attempt by sponsoring one or more prayer flags. Every flag you sponsor will be hung from the summit of Kala Patthar over looking Everest, the highest place in the world. This is a unique opportunity for you to participate in a world record attempt, to support Epilepsy Research UK in bringing hope to over 450,000 epilepsy suffers in the UK, to have your own prayer flag[s] hoisted to the heavens in this truly magical place and for your thoughts and prayers to be carried on the wind to promote peace, harmony and happiness in this troubled world.

We suggest a donation of £5 per prayer flag, and if you confirm with your donation we will transfer any personal messages you would like onto your flag. THE MORE YOU DONATE, THE MORE FLAGS YOU WILL SPONSOR SO FEEL FREE TO SPONSOR AS MANY FLAGS AS YOU LIKE. We intend to provide all donors with a digital image of the prayer flag string flying on the summit of Kala Patthar."

All the team members are paying in full for the trek themselves and shall be providing the flags to ensure that Epilepsy Research UK receives 100% of the donations. You can sponsor a prayer flag by visiting their Virgin Money Giving Page here:

www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/prayerflag

Check back soon to see how they got on, and to see photos from the trip!

Roy & Lesley Bircher - Barn Dance and Annual Charity Ball

"In late August I decided to hold a barn dance in aid of Epilepsy Research UK; our daughter Heather had just suffered another seizure. She has mild epilepsy and with medication leads a perfectly normal lifestyle, but every now and then a seizure occurs which upsets the equilibrium of her family life. She is a busy mother with a husband and 3 growing children.

My husband and I have raised monies for charities in the past, but this time it was to be for this relatively low profile charity, which means so much to us personally.

We booked a barn dance band, a venue, and then went to France for a month. We returned at the end of September to realise that only 2 people had signed up for the event! I panicked and wanted to cancel but all our fantastic family and friends rallied and within 3 weeks the event was well and truly 'on'. As it was Halloween, some of the guests came in ghoulish fancy dress, others in the charity's green colour. We asked each couple to bring a raffle prize, thus enabling us to raise an unexpected £900!

In November we held our annual charity Ball with some friends, and half of the proceeds went to ERUK. The grand total raised for both events was £2,035. A little bonus to it all was that our daughter was seated on the same table at the Ball as a researcher for ERUK, making the raising of the monies very real for both of them."

Hannah Phizacklea - Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle Ride

"It all started last summer when a friend talked me into doing a 50 mile charity bike ride with her. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was a child and at the point didn't even have a bike! But I went ahead and did it and really enjoyed it.

That gave me the inspiration to cycle from Lands End to John O' Groats!

My uncle has suffered from epilepsy all his life. By doing this cycle ride I wanted to be able to help people like him and raise awareness about epilepsy. I don't think people really understand it - it can happen to anyone.

The training was hard - going out on my own, doing 60 miles and often coming back cold and wet. The fund raising was hard too, but I couldn't believe how supportive everyone was. I even had a couple of people who took it upon themselves to raise money for me, getting their friends to sponsor me and writing to companies. I did the cycle in May over twelve days, returning the day before my 35th birthday. I did the trip with Discover Adventure. It was brilliantly organised and I had a fantastic time. Thirteen of us did it, none of whom I had met before. We all got on well and had many laughs along the way. It was a wonderful way to see the country. Scotland was amazing - cycling on single track roads between lochs and mountains.

I feel I have achieved what I set out to do, the ride was a great fun, extremely rewarding and I raised £4,320. I would recommend this experience to anyone."

Rob Dunnett - Rad am Ring. August 2009

"The "Rad am Ring" bike race is a 24 hour cycle challenge taking place at the Nurburgring race track in Germany. Rob says, "It was a lot of fun, if excruciatingly painful at moments! The course was, in fact, much hillier than I'd imagined, with huge descents followed by small climbs for the first 10km, then a 4km climb that was pretty hard work and lots of people got off to walk up this.

The first day was very sunny and hot and the uphills were pretty tough in the sunshine. Riding through the night though was quite odd, as you had to hurtle down the hills in pitch darkness (my co-rider recorded 89kph (56mph) on the speed gun down the steepest section) with only your night vision and the red rear bike lights of the other riders to tell you where the course was. I did have one moment that I thought I would come off which was also quite scary (my bike started to wobble pretty badly going down a hill at high speed whilst I was clipped into the pedals...).

We had a good time and I'd be tempted to do it again - but perhaps would start my training earlier next year!"

Rob, with fellow cyclists Rob and Nick raised over £1300 for Epilepsy Research UK.

Garrey Haase - Michael James Opticians. Charity of the Year 2009

"We originally chose Epilepsy Research UK because one of our patients lost her son to epilepsy. We felt that as a professional medical team we could help to raise awareness of this condition.

Throughout 2009 we have had three open days to date, to raise money for the charity, with another planned before the end of the year in October."

Two of the staff are also taking part in the Great North Run to boost the fundraising total.

The fundraising comes to an end in January 2010, when we will update you here with the final figure.

Ian Mulheirn - Mongol Rally. July 2009

"Ross and I were delighted to make it to Ulan Bator. Whatever we expected when we left London on 18 July, the whole trip was a challenge in all sorts of ways and there were at least five occasions when I thought our attempt had failed. During the final week, driving across western Mongolia in a clapped-out car was a test of mental and physical endurance as much as anything. By the end we really felt we'd earned all your generous sponsorship!

The car sounded more like a biplane by the time it rolled - and we very nearly had to push it - over the finishing line at 5pm on 15 August in downtown Ulan Bator - 8,031 miles from my house in London. We'd lost 5 litres of oil in 20 hours through a gearbox held together with chewing-gum, the clutch was wearing out, the fuel pump wired together, and the exhaust pipe missing. But what would be considered a write-off in the UK is an asset in Mongolia. We're assured that the car will be overhauled and will run for many years to come to help public services in Mongolia - perhaps as an ambulance in one of the far-flung aimags (districts).

All of the other teams we met encountered problems: one team was running with vodka for break fluid by the end, and another skoda team wrecked their gear box as we did, and limped the final 1200km in only 3rd and 5th gears (given the roads I just don't know how they managed that). Many teams didn't make it to the finish line at all.

Ross and Ian have to date raised over £1,408.97 for the David Scourse Memorial Fund at Epilepsy Research UK.

Ian Rice - Iceland Trek. August 2009

"It was a fantastic experience and certainly had its challenges over the seven days. We walked on average about 7 hours a day over a variety of hilly terrain including glaciers, grass and volcanic rock before setting up camp, usually at about 500m above sea level. Iceland has truly spectacular scenery if almost surreal with its black volcanic landscape and an almost complete lack of any form of vegetation. It is very clean; so much so that I was able to refill my water bottle from streams as I trekked. The volcanic island has geothermic springs which can be seen in many places bubbling to the surface and in one campsite we were able to bathe in them. A beautiful and relaxing end to a day of trekking. The group dealt with an amazing variety of weather from beautiful sunshine, to regular rain and to freezing blizzard conditions with 90mph gusts of wind 1000m up in the hills.

It was a wonderful experience and I am so glad that I have been able to raise over £5,000 with gift aid for the charity. I hope that this continues to grow over the next couple of months."

Robert Kelley - Coast to Coast Cycle Ride. May 2009

In this picture: Robert Kelley, Ken McAlpine, Barry McAlpine, Steve Calvert, Lee Calvert, Steven Homes, Ian Hughes, Paul Baxter, Michael Ward after having completed the Coast to Coast Cycle Ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland, in May 2009. They raised £1,567 for epilepsy research.

John O'Neill, Go Ape Outdoor Challenge

John and Michelle O'Neill organised a sponsored assault course at their local 'Go Ape' centre, to raise funds for Epilepsy Research UK. Along with various supermarket collections and raffles, they have raised a total of £1,303.47 in memory of their niece, Claire O'Neill.

These are just some examples of how our supporters are helping us to fund ever more research into the causes and treatment of epilepsy. Every gesture of support, big or small, is greatly appreciated and we would like to thank everyone who chooses to support Epilepsy Research UK.

To see other ways in which you can support us, please
click here

Epilepsy Research UK, PO Box 3004, London W4 4XT Tel: (+44) (0) 20 8995 4781 • Fax: (+44) (0) 870 838 1069 Registered Charity No. 1100394