A group of volunteers and charity workers are climbing the height of Everest to raise money for Vida, a charity that supports survivors of domestic abuse.
They’re hoping to climb the height of Everest by May and are doing this throughout the year in Sheffield.
They aim to climb 8849m and fundraise £8849 in one year.
‘Vida’ provides training and therapies for women and girls recovering from domestic abuse and are hoping to fundraise to increase their outreach.
They need around £130,000 to keep running this year and the next financial year.
Karen Hague MBE, 59, CEO of Vida Sheffield said: “Lots of government funding comes in for violence against women and girls but unfortunately our little charity isn’t receiving any right now because we are part of women’s longer term recovery, not initial crisis.”
Vida was set up to provide a specialised service that helps women recover from abuse that they may have experienced in the past.
Their work helps to combat PTSD, flashbacks and triggers that women and girls may have.
Marilyn Gregory, 68, Chair of Vida said: “Although we are a very small charity the staff are absolutely amazing.
“We’re an amazing group of women who really believe in what we do.”
Marilyn has taken part in stages of the climbing challenge, at 68 years old.
Vida helps around 250 women every year with long term recovery.
They host dance classes, workshops and art lessons which give women the chance to meet others who have experienced similar trauma.
The Mount Everest climbing challenge was suggested by an ‘adventurous’ woman who previously used the service and is now a board representative of Vida.
This woman also jumped out of a plane to fundraise for the charity.
The challenge began on the 29 May 2022 and will finish on 29 May 2023, the 70th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hilary being the first person to reach Everest’s summit.
Vida was formerly known as the Domestic Abuse Forum and changed coordinating policy for domestic abuse cases. In addition, they worked with training the police since their set-up in 1995.
The University of Sheffield Medics’ Hockey team have also been fundraising for Vida this year.
They’ve done favour auctions, sweepstakes and joined in on the Mount Everest challenge.
Laura Lyons, 21, charity and social media secretary of Medics’ Hockey said it was “important for future doctors to know about organisations like Vida and be able to spot signs of domestic abuse”.
Lyons felt that Vida would “make them better doctors in the future” and their work was “amazing and so needed in Sheffield”.
You can donate at https://localgiving.org/fundraising/TeamVidaClimbsEverest/.