Squash player attempts Matterhorn summit for charity

Luton and Dunstable Squash Club’s (LDS) Paul Main is attempting to summit the Matterhorn for his 50th birthday to raise sufficient funds to buy a defibrillator for the club.

The Matterhorn is an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps. With a height of 14,962ft the Matterhorn has one of the highest summits in Europe and is widely recognised as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world to climb.

The attempt, which takes place on Saturday 20th August, will be made in partnership with his friend Guy Lloyd who is also an experienced mountaineer.

The cost of the defibrillator is £1,300. Any excess funds will be donated to Harry Faulkner’s Cardiac Risk in the Young legacy fund, set up in the memory of Harry Faulkner, an LDS team player who suffered a fatal heart attack on court in 2013.

Paul, who is the Chair of the East Regional forum, commented:

"As I approached 50 I wanted to do something constructive rather than the usual party and came up with the idea of climbing the Matterhorn for charity.

"I spoke to Stefan, Harry's dad, about his preferences and he stated that he thought the purchase of a defibrillator should be the priority. Harry was a terrific lad and is sadly missed by all who knew him and it would be a fitting tribute to him to get a defibrillator at the club and minimise the likelihood of any future tragedies. Having been in training for several months, I feel confident that only the weather and my reaction to altitude will stop me getting to the summit!"

Paul is providing regular blog updates on his progress, which can be found here: http://matterhorn2016.blogspot.co.uk/

If you would like to donate, visit www.MainsersMatterhorn.com