Back to page

This will be a challenge.

  • All done !

      31 March 2022

    Yay!! So today was my last climb for the Mount Everest Challenge x 2 for me, not bad for an amputee eh. I did 76 climbs in 46 days and only had 7 days off throughout the 46 days to rest. Wow!!...... that even blows me away when I see it written down on paper. I have really enjoyed the challenge but some days were more of a struggle than others that’s for sure, and I have decided it doesn’t matter how many times you go up the Mount it just doesn’t seem to get any easier, why is that I wonder?

    My last 6 climbs have been uneventful until I got a blister on the end of my limb just before my final 3 climbs – Bugger !! Because I have become so active doing so many climbs my limb has changed shape so my prosthetic doesn’t fit quite as well now and this is probably why I ended up with a huge blister on the end of my limb. My very last climb for the challenge was today, and I did the steep track up from the base track…. I believe some call this the goat track, which actually wasn’t that bad at all but looks like it could be very slippery after rain, I then went on up the 4x4 track then up though the rock track and back down the stairs. Blister and all - had to refit my prosthetic 3 x times! Thank goodness this was my last climb; I have been so worried right through this whole challenge that my skin may not hold up to it. I’m so glad to say I’ve done it, I have knocked the bugger off, not once but twice!!

    Over the last 7 weeks I have noticed how much stronger I feel going up and down the stairs, and my balance has improved so much which has improved my walking on my prosthetic, which is great but I still have to remove my prosthetic once I’ve completed my walk for the rest of the day to rest my limb as it gets quite sore.

    What is frustrating is I’ve done all this work AND I haven’t LOST any WEIGHT!!.

    Thank-you once again to all my wonderful family, friends and supporter’s – to those who have generously donated to this awesome cause your contributions have made a difference. Your support means the Good Neighbour Charity can continue to touch the lives of those that have hit a bump in the road and it also can make a difference in people’s lives where significant change is taking place. Also I can’t thank enough those of you that have supported me by driving me to and from the mount (Freedom Drivers and Steve)

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 03/04/2022 by Marg and Nigel McConnochie

      You are a legend Denise. Huge congratulations on completing the challenge twice. I’ll be thinking of you every time I walk up Mauao!

  • A week to go

      27 March 2022
    Main image

    I thought I would give my generous supporters an update of where I am at with a week to go. Funny….. some people including my husband have nicknamed me as the “Crazy lady with the funny leg”. Since I finished the challenge on the 9th of March, I decided to start the whole challenge again, hence the nickname “Crazy lady”. I am still feeling great, I’m still enjoying the Challenge, loving the fitness and of course raising money for a charity that is making a huge difference in our community

    I’ve had a great week since my last update celebrating my husband’s birthday, meeting our son’s puppy a gorgeous ¾ border collie crossed with a ¼ golden retriever, and done a number of climbs – even had my 6 year old grand daughter Rubee join me which was super special for me. I even climbed it one evening hoping to get photos of the moon over the water only to be let down as it had clouded over but enjoyed the wine at the summit with my husband and the night views over the city.

    I’ve done a number of different tracks this last week and found I really enjoy the goat track. With only six climbs to go I’ve decided I’m going to tackle the steep track from the base track as my last climb as I feel my fitness has improved somewhat and this will be a real test for me

    Please feel free to share my page with any one you feel may wish to donate

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 28/03/2022 by Marg and Nigel McConnochie

      A stunning effort Denise. Enjoy that last climb from the base track. We’re on our way to do a Good Neighbour shift in a few minutes. You’ll be motivating us to keep doing that for many months!

  • Crazy eh !

      22 March 2022
    Main image

    We have been pretty spoiled with the weather so far during this Mt Everest Challenge. Our days have been so hot, now the rain we so badly needed has arrived I was hoping the temperatures would drop a bit but no it has just got humid. I am climbing for a second time and still enjoying it. I have now climbed 23 out of my 2nd 38, or 61 climbs altogether - Crazy eh !. I’ve been up a couple of times in the evening and have recently been doing some different tracks up the Mount to break the routine. It’s great getting encouraging comments from everyone along the way and giving encouragement to others. It’s a awesome climb with wicked views and you meet lots of lovely people up on top and it’s a great place to just chill out. Those of you who have thought of doing a climb with me better pick a date soon as we are fast running out of days……once again thankyou to all of you who have donated to this worthwhile cause – we have now raised over a $1,100 !

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 23/03/2022 by Marg and Nigel McConnochie

      You’re doing brilliantly … again! We have 4 more to reach 50 climbs. Your commitment to complete it twice prodded us along to do 50 in 50 days so thanks for that. Even enjoyed it in the rain this morning.

  • Going again !

      15 March 2022
    Main image

    Back on the 13th of February when I entered the Mt Everest challenge, I was being a bit presumptuous as I had no idea if I could even climb the Mount.

    As you know I smashed the challenge and have decided to go again to see if I can complete another 38 climbs before the Challenge finishes on the 3rd April

    So just a quick update on where I am at, I’m feeling good, strong even, not that you would think if you saw me struggling up the Mount. As of today, I have done another 11 climbs. I have my fingers and toes crossed that Covid doesn’t get in the way of me repeating the challenge I have set myself.

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 16/03/2022 by Marg and Nigel McConnochie

      Yeeha Denise. We admire your determination so much. We hope to complete our 38 tomorrow then …. who knows. Wishing you every strength for the second challenge. You’re well on the way.

  • Nailed it !!!

      9 March 2022
    Main image

    “Woohoo - !” as Sir Edmund would say “I knocked the bugger off !!” Today I completed my 38 climbs of Mt Maunganui …..yay !!

    When I started this Good Neighbour Mt Everest Challenge I didn’t even know if I could even get to the top of Mt Maunganui. It has been a challenge that has taken me right out of my comfort zone, not only physically but mentally. I been an amputee for two years and still very private about it, and taking my prosthetic leg off in front of strangers wouldn’t have ever crossed my mind prior to this.

    Doing the challenge in this hot weather, I have found my liner gets very sweaty and slips down my limb making it very uncomfortable and quite painful which means during the climb I have to stop, remove my prosthetic leg, dry my limb and liner and refit it. Sometimes I have to do this two or three times a climb.

    I have been very impressed with the number of families with young kids all walking up the Mount, the young mums with “bubs”, and the Dads with “Bubs”, the older generation also blow me away – I only hope I can still walk up the Mount when I’m their age. The kids are always fascinated with “the lady wearing a funny leg” and I can only imagine what questions they ask their parents. I actually thought as I got through my 38 climb’s I would get quicker, but with so many lovely people stopping to talk to me my climbs seemed to take longer!

    I want to thank all the other Mt Maunganui climbers for the support they have given me, the people who say “hi” and offer encouragement, the people who hold the gates open for you, the high fives, the fist pumps, the people who give me plenty of room on the stairs to let me balance while I’m climbing or descending. All of you have helped keep me going. Being an amputee it’s all about balance and in the beginning I found the stairs quite daunting, but have felt stronger and gained confidence as I ticked off the climbs each day.

    Also a shout-out to all of you who encouraged me through your facebook comments and “likes” – all of this has helped keep my motivation up.

    And finally a huge thankyou to those who have donated via my givealittle page to the Good Neighbour Charity – can you believe we’ve raised over $700 https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/this-will-be-a-challenge

    I’ve really enjoyed my time doing the 38 climbs, it’s like a drug…… I’ve decided after a day off tomorrow I’m going to start my challenge all over again. I have 24 days to redo my 38 climbs – all going well I will smash it again.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Not many to go now ...

      4 March 2022
    Main image

    "The journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step". Went up the mount only once last night as my hubby joined me which is always nice. It's lovely going in the evening when it is a lot cooler. Went up twice again today - of course in the heat of the day so dripping wet with sweat once again -Yuk. I've been told to think of it as a good thing as sweating is just your fat "crying"...🤣😂🤣

    Pleased to say after the one last night and the two climbs today, the countdown is on! 30 climbs done and dusted only 8 to go.....

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Half way there!

      24 February 2022
    Main image

    Well, I thought it was time I gave you all an update on how my Mt Everest Challenge is going. Firstly, a big thankyou to everyone who has kindly donated to this worthy cause – The Good Neighbour Charity – you all rock! Secondly, I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey with me. I’ve really appreciated all your support, all your kind words of encouragement, and “high fives” when you’ve seen me struggling up the Mount – red faced, wet and sweaty! I also appreciate my friends and family behind the scenes support – driving me to and from the Mount – you all play a big part in helping me complete this challenge even if it is always in the hottest part of the day!

    Well after today’s effort of going up twice back-to-back I am pleased to say I’m now just over half way up Mt Everest. I’ve done 20 walks so far up the Mount – some days have been OK but other days have been quite challenging for me as my prosthetic liner slips down as my leg gets really sweaty in this heat – this can be quite painful, so I have to find somewhere to sit so I can remove my prosthetic, dry my leg and then refit it again. Sometimes this will happen 2 or 3 times in a climb, very frustrating.

    Having got over the half way point I can see the summit in sight now – and no doubt will be pushing hard to conquer the summit of Everest!

    Once again, a big thank you to you all…….

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment