A daredevil Northamptonshire greengrocer who has trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp, completed Wolf Runs and run marathons, raising more than £10,000 for charity, is now determined to raise even more.
Sean Connolly recently completed the fourth stage of an incredible six weeks of fundraising challenges and is celebrating in style with a charity dinner at an award-winning Northampton restaurant.
He aims to take his fundraising total for Brain Tumour Research past the £11,000 mark – enough to fund four days of vital research – by staging the event at Saffron in Castilian Street, Northampton on Sunday, July 10.
He said:
“I have been working with Saffron for 11 years, supplying their fresh fruit and veg, and they have been very supportive of my fundraising events dating back to when they sponsored my London Marathon vest six years ago.
“We share the same vision of helping good causes when we can, so Saffron is the perfect place for me to celebrate how far we’ve come and how much we have raised on this journey.”
His latest challenges saw Sean take on the London Landmarks half marathon on April 3, the Brighton Marathon a week later and then the Spring Wolf Run on April 23 before heading to Nepal to undertake a gruelling two-week trek to Everest Base Camp.
He added:
“Everest was tough. I got altitude sickness the night before I was due to reach Base Camp and it was touch and go whether I would make it. That feeling of being so near yet so far was awful but thankfully the medication worked and I was able to get there.
“I’m always looking for new ways to push myself physically and mentally whilst raising awareness and funds for this charity and hopefully the Saffron event can push us up to our target.”
Jason Rawles, expedition leader and chief executive of Aspire Adventures, said:
“It was obvious that Sean had a lot of experience in challenge events but something like Everest Base Camp is another level. It was evident at times that he was working incredibly hard and his passion for fundraising really did spur him on when things got really tough.”
Naz Islam, owner of Saffron, added:
“Sean is a true inspiration and is living proof that if you put your mind to something and believe in yourself, you can do it. We love working with him and wish him every success with his continued fundraising for such a worthy cause.”
Tickets for the dinner cost £15 per person and include a starter, main dish with rice or naan and coffee. Tickets can be purchased online – www.veg2you.net/…/everest-base-camp-banquet-curry/
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sean-connolly23
