Stourbridge fundraiser has a mountain to climb

10:16am Friday 4th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A STOURBRIDGE therapist has set himself a mountainous task to meet a fundraising target for a good cause.

John Murphy, aged 50, from Vauxhall Road, is getting set to push his body to the limits by attempting to take on Japan’s Mount Fuji in a bid to raise nearly £2,000.

The overnight climb, due to start on Tuesday July 15, will see John making his way to an altitude of 12,388 feet, to raise cash for Stourton’s Living Springs Centre.

The centre, on Bridgnorth Road, offers help to children with physical disabilities or learning difficulties plus support, including relationship guidance, for families coping with tough times.

John said: “It’s all for children, I know how hard the directors work helping families in difficult situations, every penny will help.

“People use the place as a safe haven, it helps families cope with difficult situations.”

John is no stranger to tough challenges, the former Naval officer saw active service in the Falklands war before joining West Midlands Police where he worked as a fast response driver.

He had a major change of direction when he gave up life in the fast lane to become a massage and soft tissue therapist working at a clinic in Lower High Street, Stourbridge.

During his Mount Fuji adventure John will be walking for 15 hours along a track known as The Priest’s Way and he hopes to reach the summit in time to see a spectacular sunrise.

As an Asthma sufferer, John says the high altitude could pose problems as he makes his way to the summit, covering a distance of around 19 kilometres.

John said: “My nurse told me anything over 10,000 feet is rarefied atmosphere, I have been doing a lot of endurance training but Fuji is four times higher than anything we have in this country and I don’t know how its going to affect my asthma.”

For more information, or to sponsor John, visit www.justgiving.com/fujijohn or call him him on 01384 396777.