Fundraiser of the month

Our fundraiser of the month is James Tunningley, 16, from Witham in Essex. James and his dad Andy raised more than £5,000 for the Evelina Children’s Hospital after climbing Mount Sinai and then cycling across the Sinai desert in Egypt in November 2009.

James took up the challenge in memory of his best friend Ebuka Chukwurah, who died in 2009, aged 15, from a hole in the heart. The money raised went to the cardiology department at St Thomas’ Hospital.

James said: “After I got back from my best friend’s funeral, I saw that all of his family and friends were so upset and I decided I didn’t want anyone to feel like that. I thought if I could raise money to research new medicine or help make the slightest difference to the treatment, then that would be something.”

James and Andy were part of a large group who completed the challenge for different reasons. James had only started training six months prior to the challenge and even then he had GCSEs to study for.

On the day, James and his dad woke up at 1am, got a bus to the bottom of Mount Sinai and then walked for three hours in the dark to the top of the mountain. After descending, they ate breakfast and then got on their bikes to cycle 125km across the desert in the sweltering heat.

James said: “You got on your bike and cycled and you looked around you and there was absolutely nothing in the landscape. The desert was really difficult terrain because it was up and down a lot, so physically and mentally you had to be very prepared. There were times when your body gave up but your mind pushed you further!”

If you would like to take part in a life-changing challenge in memory of someone you love and raise money for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, contact Fundraising, or call 020 7188 7744.