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Six Celtic Summits for Prostate Cancer

By Duncan McMillan Join Me

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I'm fundraising for a great cause!

I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2018, and I’m looking forward to raising important funds for the research and work the Prostate Cancer Foundation does, including raising awareness and providing support  for the men, and families affected.
 
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand. Every year, in New Zealand, more than 4000 men are diagnosed with the disease and over 700 die – the second highest cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer. For all sexes it sits third behind lung and bowel cancers.
 
My goal is to get to the highest points in each of the Celtic Nations (Brittany, France; Cornwall, England; Ireland; Isle of Man; Scotland; and Wales) with the flag of the NZ Celtic Summer School and the relevant flag of the locality, starting in Cornwall in mid-August with Bronn Wennili (Brown Willy , 420m) and ending in the first week in September hiking  to Roc’h Ruz and Roc’h Trédudon (385m) in Brittany. To get to and between the points I will be taking planes, trains, trams, a ferry, hiring a car, and hiking.
 
As well as raising funds for NZ Prostate Cancer Foundation, attempting to meet the goal is also a part of my personal, physical and mental journey with the disease, and my way of honouring the many men and families affected by it.
 
Please spread the word, support the foundation, and donate.

#ProstateCancerNZ   #earlydetectionsaveslives   #GetChecked

My Updates

0n to Mt Snowdon

Thursday 21st Aug
After night's rest it was then  a drive from Cornwall to Llanberis in Wales for the train ride to the highest point in Wales - top of Mount Snowdon. It was a great drive cross country with amazing scenery. I had booked a train ride to get some photos. However, when got to the top it was like you were on top of the world, as the top was above the cloud and could only see cloud looking down. Very magical seeing that  and great fun going up talking to the other passengers on the train, and listening to the welsh, but not quite why I had taken the train, so .....

Cornwall Prostate Support Association

Tuesday 19th Aug
I forgot to add that the association meets the 3rd Monday of each month 10-midday, except December at the Cove Macmillan  Support Centre , Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske and can be contacted  at conwallprostatesupp@gmail.com

Cornish Highest Point

Tuesday 19th Aug
Brown Willy is the English name for the highest place in Cornwall - the first of the celtic areas tp tackle. I met up with Steve Beck of the Cornwall Prostate Support Association on a warm Cornish day and together we hiked to the highest point whihc had great views on a clear day. He then showed me some nearby tors, and  archaeolgical features. I was staying in Camelford and as we walked to have something to eat and celebrate we watched a local morris dancing group. Great weather and a great first summit. 

What is going to each summit and what happens after each summit

Saturday 16th Aug
As well as the normal hiking gear, where feasible, one of the challenge t-shirts is being worn to the top and the other 2 t-shirts  are being carried in the daysack.
Where practical, the t-shirts are also being worn between summits to help increase interest and availability of information through the QR code etc.
Where feasible, the relevant 4 flags are taken to each summit and flown, and the large NZ celtic summer school flag is carried in the daysack.
After each summit the date that the summit was reached is added to the back of the t-shirts beside the relevant details of the summit.

Flags arrived just in time, and ideas of approaches to flying obtained

Saturday 16th Aug
A large NZ Celtic Summer School flag (90X180cm) was created, along with a smaller version of 30x60cm.
In addition, a 30x45cm flag was obtained for each of the celtic nations which have a celtic language (Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and a flag representing the six with a similar motif to that on the front of the t-shirts. NZ Prostate Cancer Foundation bunting was used to create a flag, as well.
The idea is to fly four flags at each of the summits - the relevant celtic nation flag, the nz prostate cancer flag, the six nations flag and the smaller version of the NZ celtic summer school flag.
Apart from the ability to fly two of the smaller flags at a time from a car, the main approach is to fly four smaller flags at each summit by passing,  for each flag a rope through the side of each flag. Each end of the rope was then attached to a bullclip so that each flag had two bull clips which were attached to an extendable handheld flag pole and secured further on the pole using duct tape where required. 
The second approach was to attach the bullclips and hence the flags to lengths of flexible fibreglass tent poles
The third backup approach was to attach a rope to the top and bottom of the flexible fibreglass tent poles and tie each end of the ropes for the individual flags to the main rope. 
The first approach is the main approach with the other approaches being considered if the weather makes the first approach unworkable. 

T-shirts arrived just in time.

Friday 15th Aug
Three T-shirts have been created  - grey , blue and black for me to wear on the challenge. They are multi- lingual - French and English for the headings and statement. And the national language of each of the celtic nations for the flag symbol and for the list of the highest points see image. The final t-shirt has a QR code underneath the list of highest points, as the QR code on the sleeve proved difficult to use.

Where and when

Friday 15th Aug
Depart Wellington, NZ 10th August
Top of Brown Willy (420m), Cornwall 13 August
Top of Mt Snowdon (1085m), Wales 15 August
Top of Benn Nevis (1345m), Scotland 17 August
Top of Snaefell (610m) Isle of Man 21 August
Top of Carrauntoohil (1038m) Ireland 23 August
Top of Roc'h Ruz and Roc'h Trédudon 2 September
Arrive back in Wellington , NZ 15 October

Thank you to my Supporters

$54.12

Edel O'sullivan

Well done Duncan! It was a pleasure hiking Carrauntoohil with you, I hope your last ascent was just as spectacular! Keep in touch!

$16

Matthew Taylor

Good to meet you at Heathrow- best of luck!

$11.65

Rosemary Odoherty

$5

Swasti From Plaza

Hey Duncan, we met today, 20th October at Plaza Premium Lounge. Your story, your determination and positive outlook on life inspired me. I recently lost my father to heart failure and seeing someone fight a life-threatening disease made my heart full. I hope your trip goes amazing.

$106.12

Anonymous

$11.65

Chloe Tregellis

Lovely to meet you at the Highland Folk Museum today in Newtonmore. Good luck will the rest of your challenge!

$52.50

Kelly Gale

All the best mountain climbing Duncan, good to see you doing well . cheers Kelly

$52.50

Carla Gallardo

All the best Duncan! A great cause. Enjoy the journey to the top :)

$52.50

Heather

All the best for your hiking dad! You inspire me so much and I’m so proud of you. Can’t wait to see you after it all :) keep up the amazing work and love you lots

$52.50

David

Hi Duncan, Great to catch up after so long. Continue with your "Peak" Hiking Challenge. Stay strong, be resilient and continue to set goals. Trusts that you will overcome any obstacles present to you. Kind Regards, David Pui

$21

Cliff Mccauley

All the best for your challenging journey supporting a great cause.

$5.40

Andreas Hamberger

$21

Rob Ellis

Impressive effort Duncan - good luck and enjoy the adventure!

$105

Philippa Glinos

I hope it all goes well! I look forward to hearing about your adventures when you get back.

$5.25

Adam Jordan

Hi Duncan, turning a negative into a positive, having an experience of a lifetime travelling and helping raise funds for your cause is a great idea. Good on you!

$210

Bill Guthrie

A great effort Duncan - very impressive

$50

Geoff & Jan

Wishing you all the best for the six Celtic summits Duncan. A great cause to support.

$60

Tim

This is a great cause and an inspiring journey, all the best Duncan.

$21

Christine Binns

Bon chance ma cherie xx

$10.40

Julia Jefferson

All the best Duncan. Have a fabulous trip

$21

Beth St Claire

Great concept Duncan, and great cause. Good to know you are now well and strong enough to take this on <3 You're not making this easy on yourself, though - those are big climbs! Travel well, and thanks for (literally) 'flying the flag' to promote love for the Celtic nations!

$10

Anonymous

My Team Members