Iceland’s CEO Richard Walker is set to climb Mount Everest on behalf of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF), in a bid to raise over £1 million to support people living with rare dementias.
This will be the second time that Richard has set out to climb Everest in support of dementia charities, but this time the managing director of the frozen food retailer will be teaming up with world leading mountaineer Kenton Cool to tackle the challenge of summitting the mountain.
The pair are aiming to complete this challenge in just three weeks – rather than the three months that is typical for most expeditions. Walker will spearhead the campaign to raise funds for The National Brain Appeal, who are creating the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre.
The state-of-the-art centre in London will be the world’s first centre of excellence for supporting those living with inherited, atypical and young onset dementias and their families.
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In a coordinated effort with Iceland Foods stores, colleagues will also be participating in fundraising activities.
It will exemplify how best to support people living with a rare dementia, through the involvement of its members and visitors in research, cultural and artistic activities. It will also provide education for healthcare professionals and will be a space for pioneering research.
Richard’s expedition will mark the 50th anniversary of the IFCF, whose long-lasting legacy of philanthropy which has been a key part of Iceland Food’s ‘Doing it Right’ philosophy.
“Over half of us are connected to someone living with dementia, and my mum, the late Lady Walker, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over a decade ago,” executive chairman of Iceland Foods, Richard Walker said.
“I am grateful to take on this immense challenge in honour of her legacy, for our family and the business.”
He added: “I can only thank my Iceland Foods colleagues for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me and helping me raise critical funds and awareness to help prevent this disease from impacting so many.
“Having climbed to the North Col of Everest (7,020m) 12 years ago, I know that this certainly won’t be easy, but I will be in the inspiring and hugely experienced company of Kenton Cool, who has already reached the top an incredible 16 times.
I am determined to do everything I can to make the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre a reality,” Walker said,
Consultant neurologist and director of the Dementia Research Centre at the UCL Institute of Neurology, Professor Nick Fox commented: “We are incredibly grateful to Richard Walker for taking on this immense challenge and all the team members at Iceland Food Stores for their very generous fundraising.
“Their amazing efforts will help create a state-of-the-art Rare Dementia Support Centre that will provide support and advice for those living with a young onset or rare dementia and a space for pioneering research into these devastating conditions and also accelerate the search for effective treatments.”
Professor Fox added: “The centre will have a substantial positive impact, providing specialist support that can’t be found anywhere else. I was the clinician who treated the late Lady Walker following her diagnosis and I have been close to the Walker family for many years.
“I know how important this challenge is to Richard and can only wish him and Kenton the best of luck on their incredible expedition.”
It comes as Iceland Foods chair Richard Walker has said the retailer is trialling vertical lettuce farms amid the current fruit and veg shortages which are “outside everyone’s control”.
