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Mt McKinley (Alaska – 20,320 feet) - Regarded by Some as Perhaps the Coldest Mountain on Earth – June 2011

For hundreds of sick children across Australia today, the challenges seem endless. With your help , the expedition to Mt. McKinley (Denali) in Alaska will speed many of those children to recovery.

Darren and Shane will once again proudly fly the Australian Returned & Services League (RSL) Flag on the summit of Mt McKinley (Denali) in honour of our fallen soldiers, and in recognition of the current serving members of our Australian Defence Force.

: Mt KcKinley (Alaska – Height 23,320 feet)

Our Mission:

To climb 20320 ft./6194 m. to the summit of Mount McKinley (Denali); the highest mountain in North America and perhaps one of most impressive mountains in the world.

Mount McKinley (Denali):

Many climbers call the mountain by its original Native American name, Denali, meaning “great one”. We have adopted this name.

Denali is part of the Alaska Range, a massive ice-clad range of spectacular peaks. Its sheer size and enormity dominates the area and makes surrounding major ice peaks look like mere foothills.

What We Will Face:

Perhaps regarded as the coldest mountain in the world outside of the Antarctica, Denali’s combination of enormous height, high latitude, and fierce and unstable weather are unique. We will need to withstand summit area temperatures that can plummet to minus -35 degrees Celsius and the ferocious winds that can lash the summit virtually without notice.

The Realities:

The accent of Denali is a serious undertaking. It’s cold. The winds can be savage. It’s a long, long climb. On average, about 1000 climbers attempt the summit per season, 500 make it, and 3 die. The climbing season is short running from mid-April until mid-July, since before April it is too cold, and post July the weather is too stormy and unpredictable; plus, the snow softens and becomes unstable from too much sun. Success percentages for a climbing season can be reduced to as low as 31%.

Why We Do It:

Shane and I are proud to be supporting such a worthwhile cause with our climbing endeavours in supporting the following charities.

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is the largest, highly respected paediatric centre in NSW, providing excellent care for children from NSW, Australia and across the Pacific Rim. Established in 1880, a stand alone public Hospital and registered charity, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead serves over 50,000 admitted sick children and their families each year in a family-focused healing environment.

People say what courage we have to be climbing some of the highest and most dangerous mountains around the world, but we would disagree.

The real courage is in the hearts and souls of the young children that face daily battles with sickness and injury in their lives at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Many of the children who are admitted with sickness or injury face fear, uncertainty, stress and unwelcome pain, so who are the real heroes?

Please help us support the Children’s Hospital at Westmead so we can make a difference in these children’s lives – they are our future and deserve our help.

Website: www.chw.edu.au

A promise was made to a dying soldier in the trenches of WWI. A promise that his family would be looked after. With recent conflicts, our work is as important today as it was when we began. Help us keep the promise, make a donation today.

Legacy is dedicated to caring for the families of deceased veterans. Today Legacy’s caring and compassionate service assists over 100,000 widows and 1900 children and dependants with a disability. Legacy is a voluntary organisation supported by veterans, servicemen and women, and volunteers drawn from all walks of life. Our support and services now extend to include the dependants of members of today’s Australian Defence Force who lose their lives as a result of their military service.

Legacy is dedicated to enhancing the lives and opportunities of our families through innovative and practical programs aimed at: