Two siblings are preparing to head to Nepal on the trip of a lifetime as they aim to trek to Everest Base Camp.
Julie and Archie MacConnell, who grew up in the Whitehill area of Hamilton, will be heading to the world’s largest mountain early next month to raise funds for Leukaemia Care.
The duo’s father, Archie Snr and grandfather Matthew Millar, both died from the blood cancer.
The trip to Nepal came following a chance meeting in Liverpool while the siblings were attending the Grand National.
Retired police officer Julie said: “Previously we had held a race night in Hamilton to raise funds for a dementia charity after my mum died from Alzheimer’s.
“So this is quite a jump from doing a race night to this.
“We were down at the Grand National and just by chance we got talking to a man from Nepal and myself and Archie both said we would love to go there and to get to Everest. It just went from there.”
Julie, now living in Ayr and IT specialist Archie, who is now based in Larkhall, have been hard at work doing as much training as they possibly can.
Julie said: “I’m a retired police officer and have always tried to keep fit by going to the gym and running.
“We are now looking to challenge ourselves in an altogether different way and push ourselves to our physical capabilities.
“We have been out walking around Strathclyde Park and up Tinto and are trying to do as much as we can.
“I’ve got a mixture of emotions. I’m excited but nervous as well.”
Julie and Archie are financing their trip to the Asian country themselves in order to raise as much cash as possible for the charity.
To date almost £2500 has been raised for Leukaemia Care which is dedicated to ensuring that anyone affected by a leukaemia diagnosis receives the best information, advice, treatment and support.
Julie added: “My father and grandfather both died of leukaemia. At the time of my father’s passing I was in my early 20s and Archie was only 12.
“Our family know personally of the devastating impact of this disease and are hoping that we can contribute towards the ongoing fight against it.
“We’re funding the trip to EBC ourselves however we are trying to get to raise as much money as possible for this charity.
“The trip will involve long days of trekking at altitude but we both believe it is for a worthy cause.
“We know that no matter how tired, uncomfortable, in pain or mentally exhausted we may be, it is small in comparison to those people living with cancer each and everyday.
“We also know the toll on families following a diagnosis and gruelling treatments.”
You can donate to Julie and Archie’s fundraising trek by logging onto https://www.justgiving.com/page/everestbasecampcharitytrek
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