A 50-year-old woman from Congleton said she felt “excited and nervous” to climb two of the highest peaks in the world while raising money for charity.
Over five days, Suzi McNulty will scale the 4,061-metre high Gran Paradiso – the highest mountain in Italy – and Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Western Europe at 4,809 metres.
She set herself the challenge to raise awareness and money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), a charity that aims to prevent the deaths of young people from undiagnosed heart issues.
The Macclesfield branch was set up following the death of 19-year-old Mia Jennings in 2023, a family friend of Ms McNulty’s, who had attended Gawsworth Primary School with her son.
Miss Jennings, who worked as a swimming instructor and HR apprentice for Everybody Leisure, died suddenly from a cardiac arrest.
Ms McNulty said: “CRY is a charity that a lot of people don’t know about, but it campaigns over something that can happen to anyone at any time.
“When that happened to Mia it felt very close to home, so made me want to try to raise awareness.”
According to the charity’s website, 12 seemingly fit and healthy individuals aged 35 and under die in the UK every week from undiagnosed heart conditions.
CRY organisers raise funds to pay for free screening events that offer ECGs and if necessary echocardiograms to people aged 14 to 35.
Ms McNulty has previously climbed Kilimanjaro for charity in 2015. She has also climbed to Everest base camp and Toubkal in Morocco.
This is her toughest challenge yet.
On her JustGiving page, Ms McNulty said: “These are serious alpine climbs involving harnesses and ropes for safety, crampons and ice axes, steep snow slopes, glacial traverses, rocky scrambles, and a final exposed snow ridge.
“As if that wasn’t enough, the altitude means oxygen levels are around 50% lower, making the physical and mental demands extreme.
“If my climb can help raise awareness, fund screenings, and potentially save lives, then every step, every struggle, and every breathless moment will be worth it.”
Ms McNulty said she had been training hard for the event.
“Most weekends, I’m either in the Peak or Lake Districts, or Snowdonia. Every weekend I’m training with a 12kg backpack. On previous mountains you have people to carry your things but for this I need to carry it myself.”
“My kids are worried about me, but i’m not”
suzi mcnulty
She felt that turning 50 had given her a new lease of life.” My kids are worried about me, but I’m not,” she said.
“I’m excited but nervous and I think that’s the right mix to be. I feel prepared, it’s just getting out there and doing it.
“The older I’ve become, the more I enjoy doing this sort of thing; I thrive on it!”
Ms McNulty will fly out to Italy on Sunday 19th July and aims to reach the summit of Mont Blanc by the following Friday, before flying home again the following Sunday.
To donate, search for “Suzi McNulty” on the JustGiving webpage.
(Photos: Suzi McNulty).
