DEREK MAHON

MOUNT EVEREST SUMMIT EXPEDITION 2014 IN AID OF MENTAL HEALTH

WHO IS DEREK MAHON

Derek Mahon is Senior Manager at Danske Bank Markets in the IFSC, Dublin. He is a seasoned mountaineer and has climbed mountains across Ireland, England, Scotland, France & Russia. PREVIOUS CLIMBS

 Ireland  Slieve Donard, Carontuhill, Croagh Patrick, Lugnaquilla, Mount Brandon...  Scotland  Ben Nevis 2009 and 2013  UK  Snowdon 2010  Russia  Mount Elbrus 2012 Eastern Europe’s highest mountain at 5,642m  France  Mont Blanc 2013 Western Europe’s highest mountain at 4,810m

FACTS ABOUT MOUNT EVEREST

 Mount Everest was formed over 60 million years ago  The English name – Everest – was named after Sir George Everest, the British surveyor-general of India in 1865. Before, it was known as Peak 15.  Every year, Mt. Everest rises a few millimeters due to natural geological forces  On the way to the summit, a climber will pass over 200 bodies of previous climbers. Many of these bodies are extremely well preserved due to the extreme cold. Most famous of all is the Indian climber ‘’Green Boots’’.  In 1996, 16 people died during the climbing season, the highest death toll in a single year on Everest.  The first successful ascent was made by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay  The first solo ascent was made by Reinhold Messner on August 20, 1980.  The youngest person to summit Everest was only 13 years old. This was accomplished by Jordan Romero on May 22, 2010.  The oldest person to summit Everest was 76 years, 340 days old. This was accomplished by Min Bahadur Sherchan on May 25, 2008.  Aba Sherpa has made it to the summit of Everest 21 times.

DEREK MAHON’S CLIMB SCHEDULE

 Derek leaves Dublin for Kathmandu, Nepal on 5th April. He will spend a few days acclimatising on arrival at North Side Base Camp (5182m)  Before trekking 22km to Advanced Base Camp - ABC (6492M).  After another few days acclimatising he will begin the rotations from ABC to camp 1 (7000m), camp 2 (7500m), camp 3 (7900m) and after some rest back at BC the trek will begin again to high camp 4 (8300m), which is known as the ‘death zone’ and push from there to the summit.

FACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH

 Around the world, almost one million people die due to suicide every year, and it is the third leading cause of death among young people.  Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems  Mental and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide  Stigma and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care  Human rights violations of people with mental and psychosocial disability are routinely reported in most countries  Financial resources to increase services are relatively modest

WHO ARE GROW

 GROW is a Mental Health Organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems. Members are helped to recover from all forms of mental breakdown, or indeed, to prevent such happening. GROW, founded in Australia in 1957 by former mental sufferers, has a national network of over 130 Groups in Ireland. Its principal strength is the support members give each other from their own experience in matters to do with mental health.

WHERE DO GROW DONATIONS GO?

 Maintain existing GROW support groups within communities  Set up new groups  Keep their Infoline running, a confidential first point of contact which provides vital information and follow on contacts to the general public  Expand their “Leadership Programme” which teaches sufferers how to take control of their lives and to assist others  Roll out their nationwide programme – “Your Mental Health and Caring for it” – which brings free night classes to communities nationwide on mental health awareness.  Last year they ran twenty such five week programmes in communities all over Ireland

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Only Three Packages:€5,000 Each  €1’500 is donated to GROW  €3,500 is used in funding the costs of Derek’s expedition  Derek will have two images taken of himself on the summit of Mount Everest holding a branded scarf or flag from your company.  Your company will be quoted & mentioned in all pre and post summit press releases & your company logo will appear on fundraising marketing campaigns by GROW.  Inclusion in all PR coverage CONTACTS DETAILS

For all Media & Sponsorship Enquires please call

Andrew Mernagh on 087-2911028 or email [email protected]