“Step-up for blood cancer”
In May, Blood cancer UK run a charity event to walk 280,000 steps in the month to raise awareness and money. These vital funds help drive research and aid in the treatment of the 280,000 people living in the UK that are living with, or in remission of some form of blood cancer.
Here at Parthian we want to put a climbing spin on things, and so we are aiming to climb 280,000 metres in the month and raise over £5,000 as a community!
280km climbed is the height of Mont Blanc 58 times, Everest 32 times and to space nearly 3 times! An easier picture is that this is 148,936 times the height of Matt. If we low-ball the average height of our walls to 10 metres, this means as a community, we need to climb just over 903 routes per day, every day.
For all of you strong climbers is that really a lot? Well let’s make things interesting shall we: Customers Vs. Staff! Think it’ll be hard for us to keep up? I doubt it. So much so that if you beat us, I will let any and all of you throw water balloons at me (Matt + anyone I can ‘rope’ in) after the end of this challenge.
How you can get involved:
Simply climbing and tracking your routes! This can be done simply by pressing one button for every top. There will be a live tracker in the main hall where you can add your climbs, see how far we have climbed in the day and our overall progress as a centre. Of course there will be a comparison between staff and customers! There will also be a count of how much money we have raised, and any information of challenges or shenanigans led by Matt to help boost that number even more.
Of course there is making donations, any and all amounts are greatly appreciated. There will be QR codes around the centre to make this quick and easy.
To make donating doubly worth it we have arranged some incentives! Simply show us confirmation that you have donated through our fundraising page, and you will be entered into a raffle with these prizes up for grabs:
- One-month free climb
- 2 x assessment + training plans
- 2 x one hour coaching session
- 3 x 2 pizzas
Why we are doing this?
There are of course many great charities, events and challenges that require money and attention to help those in need, picking and choosing is difficult.
Blood cancer UK is a charity that has is now close to my (Matt) heart.
I lost my sister Jessica to Acute myeloid leukemia in October 2024. The whole journey was obviously heart-wrenching with treatments having seemingly worked effectively, then in a matter of weeks turning sharpy for the worst. This abrupt decline in health was particularly crushing, and now I share in what so many others have experienced and will, making the importance of this challenge and its fund raising clear.
Jess was a daughter, sister, wife, primary school teacher, special needs carer, haemophilia society volunteer, rugby player and so much more. I’m 6’2 and 95kg yet through her whole life, beginning to end, she proved that she was the strong one.
Jess had to get special sign-off to volunteer with MENCAP as she so desperately wanted to do. She gave so much, not just for those around her, but anyone that needed it.
Thankfully my position in Parthian allows me to set up such an event, to help give a little back, for those in need, like she did.
Matt Page. Fitness Manager, Parthian Climbing