Al Carns went from London to the top of Everest and back in just six-and-a-half days
Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns attended Fisher House at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the city’s “home away from home” for injured troops and their families, to officially name one of its rooms “Everest” after his record-breaking mission earlier this year.
The Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak was one of four former Special Forces colleagues who set a Mount Everest climbing record in May.
The quartet completed ‘Mission: Everest’ – from London to the summit of the world’s highest peak and back – in just six-and-a-half days, smashing the previous record of 21 days.
The feat, involving the creative use of xenon gas to help team members’ red blood cells absorb and carry more oxygen, was carried out with the aim of raising £1m for veterans’ charities.
With the mountaineering challenge complete, the four still have some way to go to complete their fundraising goal.
On Friday Carns and Godlington were at Fisher House to rename one of its 18 suites ‘Everest.’ This came after the One Thousand Trades Group (OTTG) raised more than £12,000 for Fisher House at its ‘Mud, Sweat & Cheers’ matchday fundraisers at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club earlier this year.
Raising more than £10,000 entitled OTTG to name a room at Fisher House. OTTG passed the room-naming honours to Carns.
Carns, who served 24 years in the Royal Marines, said: “I visited Fisher House last year and was shown the fantastic facilities and met the incredible team there, so it’s a real honour to return to officially name the Everest room.
“Mission Everest was all about pushing limits for a cause that means so much to me and my teammates, and it’s very special to see that effort recognised in a place that does so much for those who’ve served our country. I hope everyone who stays in the Everest room finds the same sense of resilience, teamwork and determination that took us to the top of the world.”
Ella Frampton, whose father David Frampton, formerly of the Army’s Armoured Cavalry, was treated for a brain tumour at the QE and stayed at Fisher House for eight weeks before his death earlier this year, said: “He loved it here [Fisher House]. It was a really special place for him. Having the team and Fisher House, took a lot of pressure off us both. The bond he created with people means we still keep in touch with some of the other families we met in Fisher House.”
Mike Hammond, chief executive of the UHB Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to Al Carns, Kev Godlington and the Mission: Everest team for their incredible fundraising efforts to support Fisher House UK in Birmingham. Many of the military personnel treated at the hospital have been injured in combat or training and continue to return to the hospital for more surgery. They can also stay with their families at Fisher House if they are being treated for illnesses, ranging from cancer to transplants.
“Fisher House offers a calm, welcoming space for families away from the hospital setting and eliminates the stress of finding somewhere to stay as well as the cost and pressure of travelling back and forth to the hospital. The charity is very grateful for the generous support received towards the £450,000 annual running costs of Fisher House, which has been open for over 12 years. Thanks to our fantastic supporters like the Mission: Everest team, we can keep our doors open for families that need it for more years to come.”
Professor Paul Cadman, chief executive of the OTTG, added: “It’s an honour to be able to play a small part in this moment, which we hope makes more people aware of how much we all owe to the remarkable men and women who serve King and Country.”
Unveiled on one of the walls of the newly named Everest suite today was a print of a painting by Wolverhampton artist Anthony Jefferson Hanson of a photo of the Mission Everest four at the summit.
