The current Irish Air Corps Potential Non-Commissioned Officers course is currently raising funds for Little Way Cancer Support Centre. On the 21st July 2022, the class of 19 who are all Aircraft Technicians will embark upon a rope climb challenge. They will climb the equivalent height of the Swiss mountain, Mount Pilatus, that stands at 2128 tall.
Known as the Class of 19 who are all Aircraft Technicians, they have been going through 3 months of military and technical training so to be promoted to Corporals and become the next generation of junior leaders within the Irish Air Corps. However, there should have been a 20th student completing their course but due to his recent cancer diagnosis their colleague and good friend could not join the rest of the class on this course.
As cancer is a disease which impacts us all in some shape or form, the class felt compelled to show appreciation to the support service that their close friend is availing of. The impact of his diagnosis was a complete shock and disbelief for them but it also reminded them how cancer really can hit anyone and it affects people of all ages. It is a reality check and they wanted to reach out to their colleague and remind him that he has a big team behind him backing him all the way on his journey.
They got together as a group and put ideas on the board with two caveats ideas that their colleague would be interested in and not too predictable of a fundraiser. As climbing and hiking were something that their colleague enjoys it was thought why not throw the two together and climb the equivalent height of a mountain.
They chose Mount Pilatus as this mountain holds the same name as the aircraft type that their colleagues work on in the Air Corps, ‘Pilatus’. The group will have 4 ropes going at the same time, and they will be rotating their climb. They aim to have reached this height within 3 – 4 hours. They will also be hosting a coffee morning at the JADS Airfield, followed by a walk from Hazelhatch to Sallins along the canal at 2pm.
The Little Way Cancer Support Centre is Kildare’s primary cancer support centre whereby they provide counselling, wellbeing and complementary therapies to those affected by cancer. All our services are free of charge to the client and their family. As the hospital provides the medical care accessing these supports ensure that cancer patients can have their emotional and practical needs supported. We are extremely grateful and thankful to the Sam, Connor and the rest of the Irish Air Corps 4th PCNO for choosing a challenge with a twist and a nod to their colleague whom they have obviously gotten behind on his journey.
A GoFundMe page titled Rope Climb for Little Way Cancer Support Service has been set up. The link of which can be found here. https://www.gofundme.com/f/rope-climb-for-little-way-cancer-support-service
