Posted: Thu 18th May 2023

Boss of Deeside based Iceland reaches summit of Everest in charity climb

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

The boss of Deeside-based supermarket chain, Iceland, has successfully reached Mount Everest as part of a bid to raise £1m for The National Brain Appeal, to build the world’s first rare dementia support centre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Executive Chairman, Richard Walker, has already reached halfway to the charity target, raising over £500,000. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He has been climbing alongside record-setting mountaineer, Kenton Cool, who has now ascended Everest a staggering 17 times. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a social media post, he said: “After months of training, an exhilarating and challenging journey and plenty of support along the way we have reached the summit of Mount Everest.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I am over the moon that we have also hit over half of our one million fundraising target, having now raised over £500,000 for the @brain_appeal ambition to create the world’s first Rare Dementia Centre.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Wish me luck as I complete my journey back down.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The money raised will significantly contribute to establishing a state-of-the-art Rare Dementia Support Centre in London. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr. Walker’s late mother, Lady Walker, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s over a decade ago. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Her diagnosis with a rare form of dementia deeply impacted the family, inspiring Richard and his father to advocate for increased support and ground-breaking research into dementia. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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View this post on Instagram

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A post shared by Richard Walker (@richardiceland) ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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The forthcoming centre, a testament to their efforts, will involve its members and visitors in research, cultural, and artistic activities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It aims to pioneer new ways to support those living with a rare dementia and provide education for healthcare professionals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This is the second time that the Iceland CEO has taken on the Everest challenge in support of dementia charities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The expedition forms part of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation’s (IFCF) focus on dementia, environment, wellbeing, and children. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To date, the Foundation has already raised over £17 million to advance dementia diagnosis and treatment, hoping to eventually find a cure. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/coolwalkereverest ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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