Uphill battle for Jim

From the archive, first published Friday 7th Jul 2006.

A LITTLE Marcle man is preparing to climb 15 mountain peaks for a new charity for children with cancer.

Jim Glanville, 42, is in training for the 15 Peak Challenge, in which he will tackle 15 separate 3,000 foot mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales, during early August.

The Little Princess charity was set up to help provide hairpieces for children suffering hair loss due to chemo-therapy or radiotherapy.

"My daughter goes to Hereford Cathedral Junior School and a girl in her year, Hannah Tarplee, fell ill with cancer and sadly died," said Mr Glanville.

He said that while she was being treated, the family discovered there was no-one supplying decent hairpieces for children receiving cancer treatment.

"It can be very distressing for a child to lose their hair while being treated, so after her death her parents and the school decided to form the charity."

Mr Glanville's decision to help that charity is influenced by his own battle with cancer as a child.

"I had cancer on my leg. It was removed but I also had to be treated with chemotherapy, so I know what it's like," he said.

The challenge is a route of 26 miles from the top of Snowdon to Foel Fras, including some 15,000 feet of ascent and 15 summits.

"It's the kind of thing you do have to do serious training for," said Jim, a director of Cheltenham's Mitchells Chartered Accountants.

"I went to university at Bangor and I've climbed most of the 15 peaks before, so I know the territory. But it's still a serious hike. There's some climbing to do, some sheer drops and even in August, the weather can come down and it can start snowing."

He is appealing for sponsorship from anyone who can help. Contact him on 01242 260066 or e-mail jim@ mitchells.org.

6 Jim Mitchell. 27311401

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