Local fitness guru Alison Whitehead will climb the elevation of Mount Everest in Mount Isa while raising awareness and funds for mental health.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She calculating how many laps of Telstra Hill it would take to reach the elevation of the tallest mountain in the world, coming with a total of 110 laps for a whopping 200 kilometres.
"I have always had this idea about getting to the elevation of Everest, which is 8848 metres. So when I have been training for UTA (Ultra-Trail Australia) over the last couple of years I'd always calculated at the end how much vertical elevation but I never got to Everest," Alison said.
"One afternoon whilst trudging up and down Telstra Hill, my mind turned to doing it solo."
Some would call it insane while Alison calls it a challenge in a good cause.
"I thought if I am going to do something crazy like this I am going to do it for a cause," Alison said.
"Therefore I am raising awareness and funds for North West Queensland Mental Health Network with a target of $2000."
Alison said she had watched people suffer with depression and didn't know how to help them.
"I've heard stories of people committing suicide and it breaks my heart that people think there is no other option," she said.
"So mental health is my charity of choice and hopefully it can go a long way to shattering the stigma and get people talking about it."
Alison said the challenge itself would also test her physical and mental capacity.
"Running up and down this one hill 110 times is going to be mentally tough, especially because I am a trail runner. I like to be out in the bush so one bitumen hill is not going to be all that exciting," she said.
"I am only going to walk the majority of it. I might run a few down for the beginning but I think that will peter out very quickly.
"I have a whole heap of friends who are going to set up a gazebo at the bottom of the hill as a refueling station and cheer me on, cook me food and fill water bottles."
Expecting to take 36 hours, Alison will start on at 7am Friday June 21 and complete the challenge Saturday afternoon.
Locals are encouraged to head out to Telstra Hill and join Alison for a few laps or cheer her on as she embarks on Everest in the Outback.
Donate to Alison's cause at www.gofundme.com/f/everest-in-the-outback
While you are here subscribe to our weekly email newsletter delivered to our inbox at 6am every Friday.
Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
