Rock on Sean!

The fabulous Sean Pawson from Christchurch is taking his second Summit Challenge to a whole new level. He’s dubbed it the “Porter Challenge”. He isn’t just climbing 8848m in the month – but climbing with rocks in his pack!

Sean is taking part in the Himalayan Trust Summit Challenge, which challenges New Zealanders to climb 8848m, the height of Everest, during the month of March to raise funds for Nepal.

Sean said: “I’m carrying 20-25 kg loads up Christchurch’s Port Hills in solidarity with the Nepali porters and villagers who supported my niece Clare & I on our Everest Trek a few months ago and who are who are the life blood of the Solukhumbu region.”

“Yesterday, day 10 of the challenge, whilst carrying 24kg up to the Port Hills, I had one of those “Why the hell am I doing this” moments.

“Then I remembered the faces of some of the precious tamariki I met in the villages of the Solukhumbu last November. Pushed on to 3625 metres knowing that my efforts will help create a much better world for many.”

The Summit Challenge 2019 raised $75,000 – and this year we’re aiming for a target of $100,000 to bring safe water, quality education and better health care to communities in the Everest region of Nepal.

Last year Sean took on the challenge by slogging up Christchurch’s Port Hills with a couple of passengers in his rickshaw every day.

“Despite all my training riding around the city, the physical demand of riding uphill was huge. But I really wanted to raise money for the people of Nepal and to know I’d done something to make a difference for them.”