17th October 2017

    Summit Man raises mountains of cash

    Ty ‘Summitman’ Smith from Folkestone is a former Royal Marines Commando. He plans to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, to raise £50,000 for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of his mum, Heather.


    Heather suffered from an aggressive form of cancer and was terminally ill. The family made the decision to care for Heather at home; Pilgrims Hospices ensured she received the best care and support from its care team.

    During this time, the family remained positive with huge support from their friends and other family members. Ty said: “My fondest memory is of coming home to mum’s welcoming smile after months away. Pilgrims were an amazing support for Mum, and our family cannot thank them enough.”

    My fondest memory is of coming home to mum’s welcoming smile after months away. Pilgrims were an amazing support for Mum, and our family cannot thank them enough.

    Aiming to gain the valuable experience needed to tackle Mount Everest, Ty has climbed Mont Blanc in the Alps, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina and Denali in Alaska in preparation. Recently, his adventures reached new heights. Ty explains: “After three successful and gruelling training days around the Mont Blanc massif (Closher-Closhetons traverse, Aiguille d’ Entrèves, Aiguilles Marbrées) my guide and I summited one of the world’s most iconic mountains, the Matterhorn, in aid of Pilgrims Hospices.”

    So far Ty has raised more than £14,000 for local hospice care.

    Victoria Friar, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospices, said: “Pilgrims is so grateful to Ty for taking on these brave challenges in aid of our charity. His long-standing support is raising vital funds that we will use to provide free end-of-life care to terminally ill patients. Each year Pilgrims needs to raise a staggering £11m through voluntary donations, and people like Ty help to make this possible. Please show your support for Ty’s bravery and dedication to our charity and sponsor him via JustGiving.”


    If you or your family are experiencing Pilgrims care, find out about the support Pilgrims can offer through our Wellbeing and Social Programme.

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