7 February 2007 Everest climber Mark Inglis to speak in Nelson

Nelson residents will have the opportunity to hear mountaineer Mark Inglis, speaking locally in the Rutherford Hotel, Trafalgar Square, on Friday 23 February.

Presented by Lincoln University Alumni Association, the evening with Mark Inglis, the first double amputee to climb Mount Everest, is open to the public and tickets are available at $55 by contacting the Lincoln University Alumni Office, PO Box 15, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647.

The evening starts at 6.00pm and includes a light supper.

Proceeds from the occasion will go to Limbs4All, a trust established recently by Mark and his wife Ann to direct assistance to some of the world's disabled. One of its first projects is support for the Spinal Injuries Rehabilitation Centre in Kathmandu, providing wheelchairs and resource material.

Following the loss of his legs to frostbite in 1982, after being storm-bound for a fortnight on Mount Cook, Mark took up academic study at Lincoln University and graduated with a first class honours degree in biochemistry. From Lincoln he became a research scientist at Christchurch School of Medicine and Christchurch Hospital. He then switched to the wine industry and eventually became Chief Winemaker with Montana in Marlborough.

Along the way he has won a cycling silver medal in the Paralympics in Melbourne in 2000 and re-climbed Mount Cook. In May last year he reached the summit of Mount Everest and has since written a book about his experiences.

"This is a great opportunity for residents of Nelson and the surrounding areas to hear first-hand from a great New Zealander whose achievements in the face of personal adversity are an inspiration," says Lincoln University's Alumni Manager, Sarah Currie.