The group of five young men who put their bodies on the line to raise breast cancer awareness returned from their descent up Mount Blanc earlier today.
Joined by experienced mountaineers Gregg Attard, Rapheal Fenech Adami and Sharon Zahra, the fearless five were greeted by family and friends who burst into rapturous applause at Malta International Airport as they emerged exhausted from the arrivals gate.
The group took what is widely touted to be the toughest route up Europe’s highest mountain in an attempt to raise breast cancer awareness and funds ahead of Breast Cancer Month this October.
Reaching five peaks in one week and three in one day the group said the French mountain proved to be a more difficult than they had expected.
“We did training, lots of it in Malta and quite a bit overseas but nothing can really prepare you for something like this,” a tanned Gabriel Felice said.
One of the young adventurers, however, did not summit the famous alpine mountain. Shan Francois Hussain suffered a pulmonary edema at 4,500 metres above sea level.
Mr Hussain’s lungs started filling with water due to the extreme pressures of Mount Blanc’s altitudes. Dr Greg Attard, the expedition leader and doctor subsequently advised against Mr Hussain continuing the trip as increased altitudes could have proven fatal.
“I was gutted. I had worked hard but I had to go back. The trip back was brutal- I could hardly breathe and I was half way up a blistering mountain deep in snow,” Mr Hussain said.
The young men said they were exhausted but satisfied with their accomplishment and above all, looking forward to a warm bath and hot meal.
“The idea was to spread the message that we are all affected by breast cancer, one way or another. This climb was about taking on a challenge to help,” Steve Galea one of the exhausted climbers said as he dropped his packed rucksack in an airport trolley before making his way home.
All proceeds raised from the climb and other fund raising activities over previous months will be donated to the Europa Donna Malta and Action for Breast Cancer Foundation.
Donations can be deposited in HSBC account 085131985050 or BOV account 40020409560.