Help me to Everest base camp for my Great Grandad

Hello, my name is Freja.

I grew up hearing stories of my great grandfather (George Mallory) and his daring attempt to try and be the first person to summit Everest, I’ve always found a pull towards adventure and travel and hope to walk a bit in his footsteps exploring and traveling places off the beaten path.

Pictured above: Sandy Irvine and George Mallory

This year will be the 100 year anniversary of his and his climbing partner (Sandy Irvine) summit attempt and ultimately, death, trying to be the first people to summit Everest.

The last few years have been tough, between the pandemic, family members falling ill, and two surgery’s (I found out I was BRCA1 positive at 23 and had a double mastectomy at 25) I’ve not been able to travel or adventure much, which is what I’m truly passionate about.

I had finally got some travel planned for this year and things were looking up! But just a month before I’m due to leave and my van which was up for sale (for £13,500) to fund this trip and I converted myself over 2 years was stolen. It was pretty heartbreaking as I put a lot of work, and money, into my van and it was a much needed escape through the challenges of the last few years, allowing me some freedom and time to go on weekend adventures or just get busy working with my hands on the conversion. I’m already missing van life hope to be able to convert another van one day!

Pictured above: my self converted van

The insurance company are trying their best not to pay out for my van, and I am fighting this!

I’ve sold almost all of my things and taken a 6 month sabbatical from my job for this trip, due to start in a week but now been left without the money I would have got for my van and no idea when or even if I will get any money from the insurance company.

My goal is to raise £8000 (what I should have received for the claim on my van) £2500 would get me to base camp as the first part of my trip and flights to Kathmandu are already paid for. The reaming funds will be used to help pay for the rest of the trip, flights home and a vehicle when I’m home so I can get to work!

If we raised any extra money this would be donated to a charity, ideally one helping to preserve our beautiful wild spaces so people can enjoy them for years to come, any recommendations are very welcome.

If you can donate I would be incredibly grateful even the smallest amount will put a smile on my face and help so much. Even message of support or encouragement during this stressful time would be very much appreciated.

Please help me to make it to base camp for the 100 year anniversary and fulfil a lifelong dream of seeing Everest and connecting with my family legacy!

If you would like to follow along with my journey I will be posting all about my travels and, fingers crossed, trek to base camp on my Instagram account @Freja_evelyn. Provided I can get raise the funds to make it to base camp for the 100year anniversary I will be filming the whole trek to make a short film about too!

Additionally if you know anyone with an interest in Mallory and his expedition and may be able to help or possibly sponsor the trip please send them this, even if they can’t donate I would love to connect with people who are interested in his story and legacy he left behind!