Journey To Everest For Our Fallen



https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/2019/06/25/ptsd-richard-macauley-plans-mt-everest-summit/1438093001/


Hello! My dream, for the past 10 years, has been to make it to the highest summit on earth, Mount Everest. I am currently being medically retired from the Army, after 17 years of active service. This is due to issues stemming from my last deployment to Afghanistan, when I was on a 12 man advisory team in Wardak Province. All 12 of us were wounded by a suicide bomber. We also lost a very good man, Kevin O'rourke (retired police officer from New York City).
My ultimate goal is to carry a plaque to the summit of Everest in order to raise PTSD awareness, suicide awareness, and to honor our fallen. So many of our veterans suffer with PTSD, and feel hopeless. Those are the ones we must focus on, as they are the ones most likely to lose the battle to suicide. I want to inspire those in need to get help, and see that a happy life is possible. We must get rid of the stigma that comes with getting help. Getting help is a sign of strength; not a sign of weakness. If you read the news article, you will see that I was once hopeless, and on the brink of suicide. Getting help truly changed my life, to include my family.

 This journey will require a vast amount of training. I will carry the plaque up to each summit, leading to Everest.

Total Cost of Equipment: $3,600. I am working to get sponsorship from the companies that sell the equipment.

In October, I will go on a month long trek, in order to climb Himlung Himal (23,379ft above sea level) in order to prepare for the amount Everest expedition this spring. I have already purchased the airfare ($1,300), put down a $500 deposit on the expedition (guided expedition cost is $5,800), and purchased some of the equipment.

Trip details, and complete cost breakdown are available upon request. Any excess funds will be donated to charities that support veterans. Thanks for your support!

-Rick-