Head Teacher’s Ben Nevis challenge in memory of friend lost to cancer

“We fight so that others don’t have to die”

Papdale Primary School’s Head Teacher, Wendy Bowen, is following in the footsteps of some of her pupils – taking on a challenge to raise money for a cancer charity.

Wendy Bowen is in training to climb Ben Nevis during October in memory of a friend she lost to pancreatic cancer recently and she is hoping to raise as much money as possible for Pancreatic Cancer Action.

Wendy has been inspired by the courage her friend showed in battling the disease, but also by one of her pupils, Sarah Seatter, who raised around £2,500 for the Little Princess Trust by walking 100 miles over the summer holidays.

Wendy, 45, said: “Many of you know that we have lost too many to this terrible illness - better early diagnosis is needed. Sadly, I lost my good friend to this illness just over a week ago and watching her valiant battle was very tough. If she can fight that like she did I can climb Ben Nevis!

“Some of the pupils in Orkney – Sarah Seatter here at Papdale is one of them - have shown me if you have the will you can do it.”

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom with the summit 1,345 metres above sea level and stands at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Highland region of Lochaber, close to the town of Fort William.

Wendy said she opted for Ben Nevis to really challenge herself.

“I lived in Fort Augustus and was Head teacher there for a number of years, so I saw Ben Nevis weekly when we went to Fort William shopping and always said, ‘I have no intention of ever going up there – who in their right minds would do that?’

“My mum and dad both climbed Ben Nevis years ago for fun and my mum did it again as part of the Land’s End to John O Groat’s cycle she did. I was also inspired by the BBC Out of Doors programme, I was feeling quite down having just lost my friend heard the programme and thought, I can do that, yes I’m going to that for Catherine.”

Training is going well, with Wendy walking regularly to the top of Orkney’s own peaks at Ward Hill, Wideford and Keelylang.

“I had been doing these mini adventures as leisurely walks with picnics but now we are trying to add a bit more speed to get me more fit. I only started my walking journey in Easter when I walked the St Magus Way after finding I enjoyed the last year of walking round the town with my dog. Our adventures have taken us far and wide in Orkney seeing places I would never have seen.”

For the Ben Nevis walk, Wendy will be accompanied by a mountain guide who will show her the way and is currently gathering together everything she will need to ensure she is fully prepared kit wise.

“I have to reach the summit in under five hours otherwise the guide will take me down as it is taking too long. I hope to do it in four hours.”

Wendy has chosen Pancreatic Cancer Action as they are dedicated to saving lives by improving early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the quality of patient survival. They fund vital research, create medical education programmes, produce national awareness campaigns and vital patient information.

She has set herself a target of raising £1 a metre for the climb - £1345 – and she is already well on the way thanks to her fundraising page which you can donate to here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wendy-bowenheadie.

“We need to beat this disease, to get this diagnosis is just the worst few things any doctor can tell you. Much more research is needed; one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer and many have much better prognosis than pancreatic cancer. By donating to my walk, you will help to provide opportunities for research. The charity is also Scottish based so the money will stay local. Together we can do our bit and fight cancer. We fight so that others don't have to die.”