Since the accident I have been active in many sporting activities including swimming, running, skiing, snow-boarding, paragliding, caving, orienteering and sailing. But it was returning to mountaineering that was to provide the greatest goal and the biggest challenge. In June 2000 I climbed Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, raising over £15,000 for charity in the process. Read article . A 30 minute documentary, called Climb Back, was made of this ascent, screened on BBC Scotland and featured at the Kendal Mountaineering Film Festival.I’ve also returned to active rock climbing and ice climbing. In May 2001 I returned to Chamonix, and with one of my doctors and his rescuers, I climbed the Cosmiques Arete on L’Aiguille du Midi, subject of a 50 minute documentary for French television called Le Defi de Jamie, broadcast on France 3 and winner of several film festival awards. In April 2002 I ran the London Marathon, raising over £22,000 for charity on the way. Read article. I’ve returned to the Alps several times in 2002 and climbed several mountains including Mont Blanc du Tacul (4200m) and The Monch (4099m). I also made an attempt on Mont Blanc (4800m), Western Europe’s highest mountain, but was forced to turn back just 300m below the summit due to closing bad weather.
In January 2004, with three other disabled mountaineers I made an all-disabled ascent of Kilimajaro (5895m), the highest mountain in Africa. The ascent raised over £5,000 for a Tanzanian leprosy centre situated on the slopes of the mountain. |
