Last year, Kelly Darby climbed Mount Snowdon overnight to raise money to support patients at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Now, she has her sights set on the Himalayas as she prepares to travel to Nepal later this year for a five day challenge.

Kelly works in the Housing Department at Birmingham City Council and was inspired to raise money for the chemotherapy unit at QEHB following the treatment that a close family friend had received there.

She said: “I accompanied my friend to hospital for her treatment on a number of occasions and was amazed by the quality of care on offer at the hospital. I knew I wanted to do something to raise funds for the ward.”

Kelly’s mind turned to taking on a big challenge that would really push her out of her comfort zone. She explained: “Two years ago I was really struggling with post-natal depression and wanted to focus on a challenge. I had applied for one of only a few places on a trip to the Himalayas through a breast cancer charity but sadly didn’t get in.”

It was on one of her trips to the hospital with her friend that Kelly saw a poster advertising QEHB Charity’s Sunrise Snowdon Challenge which sees fundraisers climb the mountain overnight to raise money for patients.

Jumping for joy: Kelly at the top of Mount Snowdon.

She said: “I wanted to take on the Sunrise Snowdon Challenge to make sure I really did enjoy walking and had what it takes to do a bigger walk. I loved doing Sunrise Snowdon, and I really enjoyed the fundraising side of it too.”

Once her Snowdon efforts were complete, Kelly started looking for opportunities to take on a bigger challenge, and this November she will be travelling with a group of 15 fundraisers to Nepal.

She said: “We’re leaving the UK on 5 November and will be gone for 10 days. We’re flying to Delhi and then taking the overnight train to Nepal, before a long coach journey will get us to the start of the walk.”

Kelly will have to get used to mountain views when she's in the Himalayas.

The trek will take the team five days and will see the group sharing tents and lodges along the way. Kelly said: “It will be a big challenge but I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know any of the team yet but I’m sure we’ll all know each other really well by the end of the trip!”

Kelly will have lots of support from home, with her parents, husband Ade and children aged 9, 6 and 2 cheering her on. She said: “The support I’ve received so far has been brilliant. I’m aiming to raise £2,400 for the unit which will help them to do even more for their patients.”

You can support Kelly by donating to her JustGiving page here.

If Kelly has inspired you to climb a mountain, join us for our Sunrise Snowdon Challenges in 2020!

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