A FAMILY friend took on the challenge of a lifetime in the Himalayas to raise funds for a children’s cancer charity in memory of a young footballer from Musselburgh.

Paddy Jumelle, a 47-year-old housing officer from Penicuik, is hoping to raise £3,000 for the Jordan Houston Trust (JHT) after his attempt to reach the summit of Island Peak in Nepal in the summer, which was climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 as their training climb for Mount Everest.

The trust was set up in 2012 to help children with cancer in memory of Jordan Houston, who played as a defender for Musselburgh Windsor.

He died in 2011, aged 11, after a battle with a rare brain tumour known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, diagnosed the previous year.

Jordan Houston

His mum Chloe and stepdad Chris Napier, of Delta Drive, formed the trust, which gives grants towards social recreational activities for children affected by cancer, families dealing with bereavement from a child who suffered from cancer and families with a child suffering from cancer who are in financial need.

Paddy, who grew up in Newhaven and is a childhood friend of Chris, initially planned a three-week trek in July.

He said: “At the end of the three weeks, I would aim to summit Island Peak, a 6,189m mountain which is not known to have been climbed in July – the summer monsoon season in Nepal.

“On arrival in Nepal, I was informed that everything in Everest Region of Nepal closes for the summer season. There are no visitors and most companies and towns/villages close altogether.

“I was informed that if I wanted to try to climb Island Peak, I had to meet the high-altitude mountain guides in Chukung village at 4,700m before July 12 as this is when they would be leaving.

“With all plans changing, I flew to Lukla Airport at 2,800m, then started the six-day trek to Chukhung village.

“I met up with a team which included a porter and two local high-altitude mountaineers. They were keen to see if they could climb the mountain in the summer. We spent a few days around July 12-13 heading to Island Peak basecamp at 5,100m.

“After a short sleep, we woke on July 14 at 1am and climbed the rockface of Island Peak until reaching a spot called Crampon Point at 6,000m.

“We then got into our mountaineering kit and started climbing the last 189m to the summit.

“Eventually, 100m from summit we came across unpassable crevasses and had to end our climb at around 6,100m. We then had a 10-mile trek back to Chukhung village. At that point, the climbing team left and I was left with a young guide.”

Paddy added: “I had severe altitude sickness and it took us five days to descend to 3,400m and seek help from a doctor. Along the way, all towns and villages were deserted and closed. It took two weeks to get medical treatment and descend to Lukla Airport to make the trip back to Kathmandu.

“Due to altitude sickness and the region largely being closed through July and August, I cannot progress any further but met the main aim of climbing to just short of the summit of Island Peak in the summer.

“It was in 1953 Everest was first climbed by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. They used Island Peak as a training climb and were also the first two people to climb it in 1953 as part of the first successful Everest expedition.”

Chloe said: “Myself and Chris can’t thank Paddy enough for what he has taken on in Jordan’s honour. It was such a massive challenge and really took its toll on Paddy’s health.

“I hope he feels as proud of himself as we are of him. The money he raised doing this will go on to help us continue to help children and their families affected by cancer.”

Paddy’s JustGiving appeal currently stands at more than £1,800. Donate at tinyurl.com/9myfbmjy

Funds will also be raised for the charity at JORDOFEST at Ravelston House Hotel, North High Street, Musselburgh, on Sunday, 1-10pm. Attractions include a family-friendly music festival, stalls and fairground rides. Acts which can be enjoyed are Socrates Mundial, The Kennedy Project, Chris Buckley and Ra Mora. Entry is £5 for adults and £2 for children, which includes a limited edition JHT wristband.