MEDIA: Climbing Everest for a Cure to MS

After climbing Ama Dablam last year despite her Multiple Sclerosis, Jen Willis is back to training for an even bigger challenge. 

51-year-old Jen is preparing for her quest to conquer Mt. Everest next month.

She will be the first Australian with MS to attempt to summit Mt Everest, and only the third person ever with MS to stand on top of the world! With this climb, Jen is again raising money for MS research. Her mycause fundraising page, Climb for a Cure for MS, has raised over $18,000 so far. 

Jen has dreamt of this climb since she was very young.

“A seed was planted in me when I was little girl,” she told Channel 10 in an exclusive interview. “I was given a brooch by my grandfather and it was just a little ice axe with a mountaineering boot hanging of it.”

Now a mother of three living with MS, Jen works hard to manage her symptoms and doesn’t let them get in the way of adventure.

She secured a place on an expedition to climb Mt Everest in 2023 after spending almost six weeks in the Himalayas last year and raising almost $10,000 for MS. 

Jen spent the time building her high-altitude experience, climbing Mera Peak and Ama Dablam which stand at 6476m and 6812m respectively.

She is dedicating her Everest climb to Trish Langsford, namesake of her chosen charity, who passed away of MS in 2002 at the age of just 30.

Trish was a very active person prior to developing MS. As well as being an A1 tennis player and first grade hockey player, Trish had represented New South Wales in the Open Women’s Cricket Team and captained the Australian Youth Cricket Team against New Zealand.  She was described by cricket writer Amanda Weaver as one of the most gifted players in Australia.

The Trish Foundation was established with the specific goal of finding a cure or preventive strategy for multiple sclerosis.

Jen will match every dollar donated towards this expedition through ongoing fundraising for MS research for the Trish MS Research Foundation.

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