Father and son scale new heights in memory of Lisburn businesswoman Ruth Gamble

Kurtis Gamble, his father Bryan, as well as cousin Jake Baxter, and friends Clark Gibb and James McCreight, decided to take on the mountainous challenge after Ruth Gamble, who ran the well known clothes shop Paparazzi in Lisburn for 25 years, passed away from Aplastic Anaemia.

"When my Mum died in November 2021 from Aplastic Anaemia I really felt I needed to try and make something positive from her memory and raise some money to help other people suffering from what she went through,” explained Kurtis.

"Therefore, mid 2022 I reached out to the Aplastic Anaemia Trust UK Charity and started sharing the challenge via social media and word of mouth that as a group we would trek to Everest Base Camp in memory of Mum.”

Kurtis, his father Bryan, and close friends are all aiming to raise awareness for the charity Aplastic Anaemia Trust and emphasise the importance in checking your NHS eligibility to donate blood and/or platelets, and in volunteering to join the STEM Cell Register through organisations such as Anthony Nolan, DKMS or Race Against Blood Cancer.

No strangers to trekking, having completed the UK Three Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scaffel Pike and Snowdon) together as a group in a single weekend, they decided to take on the Everest challenge on the first anniversary of Ruth’s passing, raising both money and awareness of the charity.

The challenge also marked the closing of the women’s clothing store, which had been a popular spot in the city centre for over two decades.

Ruth and Bryan ran the business together for 25 years and sadly last year, after Ruth’s death, Bryan took the difficult decision to close the Bridge Street shop.

"We had always talked about doing the Everest Base Camp Trek, however with the travel lockdown these past few years, and the significant effort it takes to save up and plan for a trip like that and get the time off work together, it always got overlooked or not taken seriously,” continued Kurtis.

"My Dad is over twice our age so my biggest concern was getting him fit. As I live in Sheffield I did most of my training in the Peak District. However, I got my friends to take it in turns to take my Dad hiking in the Mournes every Sunday for about three months ahead of the trek where I joined in a few times while visiting my family back home. On top of that Dad would go on long country side walks local to Ravernet during his days off work.”

In November 2022, one year on from Ruth’s death, the team successfully reached Everest Base Camp, and have raised almost £6000 for the charity,

"The feeling of achievement didn't really hit home until we got back safely to our camp the evening after reaching Base Camp by which time we were all exhausted and heavily feeling the altitude,” added Kurtis.

”For me personally getting my Dad there in memory of Ruth is something that will stay with me throughout my life.”

Donations can be made online at www.theaat.org.uk.