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Climber braves Everest for kids

The Town 'N Country man, who didn't quite reach the top, set out to raise money and awareness for the Children's Home. So far, he has raised $15,000.

By RITA FARLOW
Published September 22, 2006

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - John Turner did not want to turn back.

He had battled blinding snowstorms, freezing temperatures and illness from a stomach parasite and he was just 1,000 feet short of his goal: the top of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain.

"Prior to leaving, I'd promised my wife I'd return safely. I was committed to reaching the summit, but I was committed to returning home," he said.

With that thought, the 43-year-old mergers and acquisitions adviser who lives in Town 'N Country made the hard decision to turn back, pledging to one day return.

Turner talked about his 2½-month trip recently during an event at Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park. The trip was a fundraiser for the Children's Home in Tampa. The nonprofit group operates a residential treatment facility for kids and teens who need parents and offers case management and family support services.

So far, Turner has helped raise $15,000 for the children's charity, said Lisa Braswell, the group's director of communications.

"He came out and met with all of the kids and showed them all of his gear. He's a very inspirational speaker and he wants to help us find parents," Braswell said.

Turner paid for the trip with help from sponsors. He documented his adventures on a Web site with photos and dispatches from each stage of the route. A longtime climber, Turner prepared for the world's highest mountain with expeditions to Mount McKinley in Alaska and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.

The arduous journey took Turner and his climbing partner, Phunuru Sherpa, to an elevation of 28,000 feet. Along the way, they encountered winds in excess of 100 mph and temperatures below minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. One storm dumped 5 feet of snow in 24 hours.

"It was by far the most active mountain I've ever been on. There were avalanches all the time, sometimes a half dozen a day," Turner said.

Phunuru's brother-in-law, Pinjo, was killed while part of a supply caravan to camp. A sheet of ice collapsed, burying Pinjo. The team put the climb on hold for about a week.

And that nasty stomach bug? Turner had three separate bouts with giardiasis throughout the trip. When the last one struck during his ascent for the summit, Turner decided it was in his best interest to turn back.

Turner said he hopes to return to Everest someday and thinks the fact that he didn't reach the summit holds even more significance for the children he has vowed to help.

"You're going to have speed bumps or setbacks along the way and you shouldn't allow those to prevent you from continuing to pursue your goals and your dreams," Turner said. "Having a can-do attitude is not only contagious to others, but something that's necessary to be self-reliant and an asset to others."

Turner said he hopes his trip brings visibility to the Children's Home, which houses 60 kids in need of foster or adoptive parents.

"There are children in need right here in our community. The real story in my mind is about these kids," Turner said.

TO LEARN MORE

For information about the Children's Home, 10909 Memorial Highway, Tampa, visit the Web site at www.childrenshome.org. To learn more about John Turner's expedition to climb Mount Everest, visit his Web site at www.achievingnewheights.com.

[Last modified September 20, 2006, 13:04:21]