Gary Coutanche, head teacher at De La Salle Primary School, climbed Ben Nevis with his 14-year-old son William, reaching the summit on Monday – two days earlier than expected.
Mr Coutanche, who underwent surgery in 2013 to remove a benign brain tumour, took on the challenge to raise funds for the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity which helped him on his road to recovery.
- Ben Nevis, in the Scottish Highlands, is the highest mountain in the British Isles, at more than 4,400 feet above sea level
- Each year 125,000 people complete the climb and there are a further 100,000 partial ascents
- The name Ben Nevis is from the Gaelic name Beinn Nibheis, meaning venomous mountain
He and William were joined by family friend Eric Blakeley – conqueror of Everest – who recorded the adventure on camera, which the charity hopes to use to create a documentary.
Speaking after reaching the peak, Mr Coutanche said: ‘We were delighted to have made it to the top.
‘It was too cold and wet to wear our specially designed T-shirts, and we had to walk through patches of snow on the way up.
‘William and I are very proud to have achieved our aim – and in some pretty awful weather.
‘After I had surgery to remove the tumour, the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity provided me with great support at a time when I needed it most, and they really helped me along the road to recovery.
‘The service they offer patients and their families is invaluable, and because of the support they gave me, I wanted to give something back.’
William, a Year 9 pupil at De La Salle, raised £800 for the charity after making a presentation to the school’s charity committee.
And between them, the pair have raised more than £4,500.
Sue May, chairman of the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, said: ‘We are so proud of what Gary has achieved.
‘He wanted to give something back to us by raising much-needed funds to help us and the work we do to support others.
‘The message of standing on top of a mountain, having overcome all the odds, will strike a real chord with Islanders.
‘We can’t wait to celebrate the achievement with them.’
Islanders can donate by clicking here.
JERSEY is a generous community that is quick to act when others are in need.
In recent years, Islanders have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in swift response to disasters around the world.
And that widespread spirit of giving is also seen every week in individuals who undertake personal challenges to support charities large and small.
Today, head teacher Gary Coutanche has spoken of his joy at reaching the peak of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, less than two years after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour.
He made the climb to raise funds for the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity and was joined by his 14-year-old son William and his friend Eric Blakeley.
Mr Coutanche, the head teacher of De La Salle Primary School, received invaluable support from the charity on his road to recovery and he and his son have now raised more than £4,500 for the organisation.
But their efforts are also representative of the lengths that thousands of Islanders have gone to over the years, and the challenges that thousands more will endure in the future, to raise money for charity.
The JEP and its readers congratulate them all.
