Type 1 Will Cross on Makalu
According to everestnews.com, Will Cross is expected to be on Makalu this season:
"...At 8,481m (27,824ft) Makalu ranks as the fifth highest mountain in the world. Will Cross departs for this monumental peak as part of his Giant Mountain Challenge; a quest to climb six of the highest peaks in the world. All are located in the Himalaya and all are above 8000m (26,246 ft). The purpose of this challenge is to demonstrate that one can lead an extraordinary life with diabetes, an incurable condition and a global pandemic.
So far, Cross has topped out on Everest, Lhotse and Cho Oyu. He has had diabetes for over thirty years.
Novo Nordisk continues to be the primary corporate partner of this endeavor. Wild Things is the exclusive pack and gear provider. Dermatone is the exclusive sun care protection. HealthiFeet and Adventure Medical Kits have also stepped forward to support the Giant Mountain Challenge. Images and interviews are available upon request. "
Best wishes to Will and the rest of you in the hills, dp
Excellent news!!! Which 'six' have been chosen and why those ones? This is the kind of story I wish they'd made waaaayy more of a deal out of when I was growing up with diabetes! This should be front page news across the world, especially, as you say, with diabetes being a global pandemic and a massive amount of the people affected ending up being depressed and couch-ridden! I think this website should send Will some sort of official support message...
A G McKenzie
Six 8000-ers chosen are described in a previous post re. Will's Giant Mountain Project - let's see they definitely include K2, Annapurna, Nanga Parbat, Kachenjunga, Manaslu.....just joking. You might as well go ahead and climb 'em all then!
In all seriousness, the Giant Mountain Project includes, I think, the first six ticked of these: Everest, Lhotse, Gasherbrum 1 and 2, Broad Peak, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Makalu.
Our talking about it here is de-facto official support. Good luck to him!
Andrew, are you planning on going to Italy for MADiDEA 2010, June 11-13? Should be a truly inspirational group in a stellar mountain setting.
Cheers, dp