Next month, Gary Coutanche, the head of De La Salle Primary School, will travel to the Scottish Highlands in an attempt to scale Ben Nevis.
Mr Coutanche, who is raising money for Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, will be accompanied by his 14-year-old son William and family friend Eric Blakeley – an experienced mountaineer who has previously climbed Mount Everest.
The challenge takes place less than two years after Mr Coutanche underwent major surgery to remove a benign tumour which was badly affecting his vision, smell, hearing and taste – and was starting to threaten his heart.
‘I spent much of 2013 wondering what was happening to me,’ the 48-year-old said.
‘I seemed to be losing lots of things I had always taken for granted. My hearing, sensation in my face, sense of taste, balance, and my vision was getting erratic. I kept falling asleep and my thinking was sometimes more muddled than usual. I knew that something weird was going on.
‘Eventually my wife Sally pestered me to getting an MRI. The day after the scan I was phoned at work by the consultant and called into his office to be shown a picture of my brain with a big black splodge on it. It was a tumour and cyst which needed to be removed straight away.’
According to the headteacher, who has now fully recovered, the operation was straight forward, but it was the aftermath that was the real challenge – and the period that Jersey Brain Tumour Charity helped the most.
‘I seemed better, the operation went well, my hearing and balance was back, I could think straight, I was even driving again, but I still felt quite fragile and definitely not as strong as before. I wanted the recovery to happen much quicker than it was happening and that was really frustrating.’
‘The Jersey Brain Tumour Charity provided me with genuine support at a time when I needed it most and their support worker really helped me along the road to recovery. I honestly don’t know if I would have been in the same position now if it hadn’t been for them.
‘The excellent service they offer patients and their families is invaluable and in return for the support they gave to me I wanted to give something back.’
So far, year nine De La Salle College student William has raised £800 for the charity and there are a number of fundraising initiatives planned before the trio embark on their challenge on 22 July.
Mr Blakeley will film the trek and the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity will use social media to keep track of their progress.
Anyone who wants to support their effort should visit his fundraising page.
