5 Apr 2024 Community

Neville Cooper’s Neverest challenge for The Kirkwood

Everyone involved with The Kirkwood always enjoys hearing about the lengths people will go to, to raise funds for our charity and take on the most incredible challenges. 

Neville Cooper, 66 is one of those people pushing his body to the limit to raise funds for The Kirkwood. Taking on the Everest Base Camp challenge. Neville will be climbing to heights he's never reached before. He'll be up to 5,000m above sea level and will have panoramic views from the base camp itself. 

On why he's doing the challenge, Neville said: “I'm doing the challenge in October. I've got three fundraisers on the go raising funds for three different charities. One is The Kirkwood, one is the charity MIND, and the other is Breast Cancer. They are all terrific charities and I have different reasons for raising funds for all three. I'd like to raise at least £500 for each one.

“I've never done anything similar to this before to this extent, albeit I was a scout leader some years ago and did some walking with the scouts but nothing on this scale.” 

Neville got the idea to do the challenge by listening to the radio. After hearing someone doing the same challenge, Neville felt inspired and wanted to take it on himself. 

He commented: “I was listening to a Friday radio show last October and this guest came on. When the presenter asked what he was up to at the weekend. The guest told them they were going off to take on the Everest Base Camp challenge. I suddenly thought I'd like to do that. So I googled it and thought it's a good opportunity to do it for charity.” 

Neville is looking forward to the challenge but knows he'll have to train well to complete it. Calling the challenge Neverest, this is just the latest in Neville's birthday challenges that he takes on every year. 

The first was lifting an Olympic bar, weighing 20kg and then pressing 20kg either side. Another was completing ten press ups whilst balancing on three medicine balls. Finally another was jumping 36 inches forward from a kneeling position.

He said: “I am a bit of a fitness break. I'm probably fitter than the average 66 year old. I have a birthday challenge every year, so I've usually trained for a birthday challenge. However Just after my birthday challenge this year, I got injured. So the only thing I have been able to do apart from the last three weeks is walk. 

“I've been going to a gym and I've been walking for anything between 60 and 90 minutes on a treadmill. I do have a plan with regards to a training program, but I've not planned any walks yet.

“I need to find some walking clubs or go on my own or go with friends to start walking on uneven ground and getting my boots bedded in.

“I'm really looking forward to taking on this challenge though it excites me, it will push me.” 

Neville is related to our community fundraiser Julia Owen but also grew up in Huddersfield and so understands how important we are to the area of Kirklees as a whole and that is why he chose to raise funds for The Kirkwood. 

He said: “Whilst The Kirkwood is not local to me anymore, I was born in Huddersfield and brought up in Huddersfield until I was 17, when I moved to Lancashire. So I just wanted to do this for The Kirkwood

“Raising these funds makes me proud and if it means it gives anybody a better life, or a better quality of life, whether it's for a day, whether it's for a week, or twelve months then for me, it's got to be worthwhile. It makes the effort worthwhile, because life is precious. The quality of life people have is important.” 

If you'd like to donate to Neville's just giving pages click HERE. 

Everyone in The Kirkwood Movement wishes him all the best in October with his challenge.