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Adventurous Brit Lizzie Banks and her American husband John Tinetti are planning their next challenging climb with the aim of raising global awareness of one of Bahrain’s favourite charities.
The Saar couple will be aiming to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, and at 5,642m, the 10th most prominent peak in the world. A dormant volcano, Elbrus forms part of the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia, near the border with Georgia.
“We are doing the North Route,” said Lizzie, 50, head of psychology at St Christopher’s School. “A friend of ours who has just completed all seven summits has said that this route is difficult in terms of the extreme temperatures and the winds being vicious.
“I have been in Bahrain for seven years and feel extremely fortunate for all the opportunities that have presented themselves whilst here. It is time to give back. This year we would like to make The Royal Charity Organisation the focus.
“We are not asking for sponsorship as such, more aiming to raise awareness of the charity and the work that it does in the hope that people will be motivated to support it.” The charity’s goal is to ensure some of the kingdom’s most vulnerable children are continually offered the best chances in life.
His Majesty King Hamad first established the Orphans Sponsorship Committee in July 14, 2001, specifically to support orphans. In November, a royal decree was issued to look after widows as well and then in 2007 the committee was renamed the Royal Charity Organisation.
Its mission is to sponsor orphans, widows and care for the elderly and those with special needs and there are about 5,000 orphans and widows and 10,000 needy individuals registered with the organisation.
Lizzie became aware of its good work while supporting the St Chris World Challenge Team which donated $400 to the cause The Saar couple hit the headlines last year after they climbed the highest mountain in the Alps on a charitable trek despite Lizzie having no depth perception as a result of losing the sight in one eye and US Navy commander John suffering from a fear of heights.
They were determined to reach the 4,808m peak of Mont Blanc despite having to climb in the dark and getting hit by falling ice. The challenge raised thousands of pounds for research into Alzheimer’s disease to support a close friend who had given up her job in Bahrain to return to the UK to help care for her father who had been struck down with the brain disorder.
“I am always up to something adventurous,” said Lizzie, who comes from Canterbury and has a daughter, Bethany, 20, who attended St Christopher’s for four years and is now studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
The couple will be setting off on July 30 for five days of acclimatisation and a slow climb to base camp before heading up to the sky if the weather allows. Before then, she has the task of joining intrepid pupils on a fund-raising trek to a base camp at Annapurna, a massif in the Himalayas in north central Nepal, that includes one 8,000m peak, 13 peaks over 7,000m and 16 more than 6,000m.
St Christopher’s has been involved in a school rebuilding community project in the earthquake-ravaged country. She and John are hoping to reach a total of seven summits whilst living in this part of world.
Their ‘ultimate goal’ is to rise to the challenge and conquer Denali in Alaska, North America’s tallest peak. “I couldn’t carry the load just yet,” said Lizzie, “50lb on my back and another 30lb on a sled tied to my waist … but one day!”
No one is prouder of Lizzie’s achievement than John, who comes from Colorado. “My wife is one amazing lady,” he said. “It has been nothing but an adventure from the day I met her. “One of the things that keeps me motivated throughout the climbs is the fact that this little woman of mine, who is literally half of my size, can power up a mountain. I am afraid of heights but know this is the kind of thing that Lizzie lives for and so, what the heck, it can’t be that bad!”
For more details on The Royal Charity Organisation visit https://www.rco.gov. bh/en
