An eminent property consultant, who’s living with a malignant brain tumour, is taking on a ski climbing challenge alongside 11 friends to raise vital funds for research into brain tumours.
John Woodman, from Winchester, was planning an active retirement when he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in March 2024.
Now he’s galvanised a group of friends to take part in a unique fundraising challenge which involves climbing the height of Everest on skis over four days in the Swiss Alps. He sets off on Thursday 27 February.
Money raised – which has already reached over £200,000 thanks to more than 700 donors including primary sponsors Hollis Global, Edmiston Yacht, Foster and Partners, and CMS Law Firm – will go to The Brain Tumour Charity which aims to develop new treatments and improve the quality of life for people affected by brain tumours.
John said: “I was planning an active retirement including going sailing with my wife Jenny and meeting up with lots of family and friends. But I experienced a seizure out of the blue. A scan showed I had a grade 4 glioblastoma – the worst news.”
Instead, John’s life now revolves around surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy for five days every month, immunotherapy and endless tests and scans.
Somehow, he’s also managing to train hard for this daunting challenge which involves getting acclimatised to high altitude and carrying a 30-litre backpack containing food, water and spare clothing, It will burn off the equivalent calories of running several marathons on each of the four days.
John added: “Since I’ve been on this journey, I’ve been amazed not only by the care that I’ve received from medical professionals, but also by the exciting progress that’s being made in treatments for this devastating disease, particularly in the fields of AI and immunotherapy.
“Fitting in hard-core training around hospital appointments and physical setbacks has been arduous but knowing that we can make a real difference in outcomes for brain cancer sufferers makes it all worthwhile. I can’t wait for the challenge itself – climbing the height of Everest with a fantastic group of people, all for a great cause – what could be better?”
That fantastic group of people includes John’s daughter Annabelle and her former schoolfriend Jack Thistlethwaite, his godson Hamish Martin, friend Lindsay Dibden with his sons Alastair and Giles, and friends Tim Dunger, Adrian Lee, Murray Biggart, Howard Redhouse and Will Hellier.
Tim Dunger said: “John is an inspiration, despite the obvious traumas his diagnosis has brought for him and his family, he meets every day with an energy, optimism and generosity of spirit that I’m in awe of. It’s typical of him to want to do some good for other sufferers of this terrible form of cancer and I’m proud to be part of his Everest in the Alps team. I just hope I’ll be able to keep up with him!”
John was inspired to take part in the challenge after a chance meeting with Rob Ritchie and his family at a cricket match. Rob set up Everest in the Alps in 2015 after his son Toby was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour at the age of five. He’s still living with the condition and the side effects of treatment.
Rob’s team of 14 headed to Verbier to climb the equivalent height of Everest (8,848m) and raised an incredible £3m to fund the creation of The Everest Centre in Heidelberg, Germany.
The research centre into paediatric low-grade tumours opened in June 2017 and, since then, the annual challenge has raised a staggering £5m to fund research at The Everest Centre.
Clare Horwood, Director of Fundraising at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “John and his team are tackling this extraordinary challenge with enthusiasm and dedication to both the physical aspect of the event and their brilliant fundraising efforts. I am in awe of anyone who takes this on, let alone when in the middle of treatment; he really is an inspiration to us all. The money raised will make such a significant difference to the work we do and the research we are funding, both at the Everest Centre and into better treatments for glioblastoma.”
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: “John is a truly inspiring human being. Despite facing his own challenging diagnosis, he has displayed remarkable strength and unwavering determination to support others in similar situations. We wish John and his entire team the very best of luck in their fundraising challenge.”
To donate to John’s JustGiving page visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/teameverestinthealps2025?
