Ranulph Fiennes Eiger Challenge to benefit Marie Curie Cancer Care

Press Release - For immediate release

In March top British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, will climb the North Face of the Eiger to raise £1.5 million for the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme.

This 6,000 ft sheer face of rock and ice in the Swiss Alps, has one of the most daunting reputations in the climbing world.

Sir Ran, 62, who only started climbing two years ago, suffers from vertigo, a heart condition and after developing severe frostbite on a solo polar journey in 2000, had all of his fingers on one hand amputated at the half knuckle.

He said: “Climbing the Eiger will be truly challenging, but with every step that our three-man team takes, I’ll know that our efforts will be making a real and tangible difference to the lives of terminally ill people, their families and carers across the UK.”

Sir Ranulph, has chosen the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme to be the sole beneficiary of the epic ascent. The programme, launched in October 2004, currently runs three flagship projects across the UK, in Lincolnshire, Tayside (Scotland) and Leeds.

He said: “The Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme is a pioneering initiative which aims to develop and help provide the best possible service for terminally ill people allowing them to be cared for and die in their place of choice.

“I have watched my own nearest and dearest die of a terminal illness and I understand the huge difference to a patient's morale and sense of well-being when they have the choice to spend their last days in the security of their own home.

“The Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme will enable more people to make this choice. I am proud to be supporting this groundbreaking initiative and I am urging people to get behind the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme by sponsoring my Eiger Challenge on line at www.mariecurie.org.uk/EigerChallenge.”

Accompanying Sir Ranulph on the Eiger Challenge will be top UK climber Kenton Cool and mountain photographer Ian Parnell. The team will follow the classic route up the face, pioneered by the German Austrian expedition which first conquered The Eiger’s Northface in 1938.

As the ascent is weather dependent no exact date has been set but the team expect to take between four and seven days to complete the challenge.

You can support Sir Ranulph’s Eiger Challenge by donating on line at www.mariecurie.org.uk/EigerChallenge or by calling 0800 716 146.

Read Sir Ranulph’s Eiger Challenge blog at www.myspace.com/ranulphfiennes .

To find out more about the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme go to www.deliveringchoiceprogramme.org.uk