Hugh to tackle the Matterhorn to raise money for charity

3 June 2015

STANDING at almost 15,000 feet, the imposing, roughly chiselled rock pyramid of the Matterhorn defines the Swiss Alps.

Keen climber Hugh McGoldrick has taken on some serious challenges before in aid of charity, including Mont Blanc, but this mountain will be the toughest yet.

There is a mixture of rock and ice mountaineering involved in this incredibly exposed environment and the climb later this summer will be a week long event.

Twenty four year-old Hugh, who is from outside Downpatrick, hopes to raise £5,000 or more for the Pretty ’n’ Pink breast cancer charity by taking up his Matterhorn challenge. His previous climb for Mont Blanc in 2012 raised money for Macmillan Cancer after his grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and cancer charities remain close to his heart.

“After becoming aware of Pretty ’n’ Pink and the fantastic work they do in our community I saw the opportunity to raise money for a very worthy cause utilising my existing mountaineering skills,” he said.

“The climb itself will be a week long undertaking, with three days of altitude and technical acclimatisation.

“I will be polishing my existing mountaineering skills in order that I have the best possible opportunity to hit the summit.

“This summit attempt will be two full days of 12 hours of climbing on a mixture of both rock and ice.”

Hugh, who developed his skills climbing the Mournes, said it would require constant vigilance to ensure success and his own safety at the Matterhorn, with a five month long gruelling fitness routine currently in place to help.

When he’s not at his desk at corporate finance firm HNH in Belfast he is more often than not at the gym.

“This climb will be technically more difficult,” said Hugh. “I have been getting up at 5am for the gym, training there from 5.45am to 7.45am four days a week.

“As well as that I am trying to do a 10k at least three times a week.

“I need to be in peak physical condition to make sure my attempt is successful for our incredibly worthy charity Pretty ’n’ Pink.”

Founded in 2006 by Noleen Adair, Pretty ’n’ Pink is the only registered Breast Cancer charity in Northern Ireland.

Run by a very small team and a host of volunteers from across the province all funds raised go directly back to breast cancer patients and their families.

Sadly Noleen Adair lost her battle with breast cancer in June last year at just 35 years-old.

“When I was climbing Mont Blanc she was very kind in supporting me raising money even though it was for another charity,” he said.

As well as being supported on this occasion by HNH, Hugh is receiving corporate sponsorship from art gallery and picture framing business Canvas Galleries at Stranmillis and waterproof clothing manufacturer Target Dry.

There will also be a fundraising event at The Fly Bar in Belfast on June 19.

He thanks all those who are supporting him in his latest venture but admits using a holiday and being an “ocean apart” from his parents to break the news of the Matterhorn.

“The last expedition mum and dad were not too pleased,” he said. “I am a risk taker and I have been climbing for a couple of years now, so they were more ‘not again’ than anything else. Everyone has been really very supportive.”

For more information on Hugh’s Matterhorn mission and details on how to donate to his Just Giving page visit http://www.hughmcgoldrick.com/

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