At the age of 79, Sam Bunting is set to become the oldest man with Alzheimer's to conquer Everest Base Camp and has compared the condition to "climbing a mountain". Diagnosed with the disease in 2022, the Ashford-based army vet hasn't allowed this to slow him down and instead has chosen to tackle his lifelong ambition of scaling Everest.
The venture aims to gather funds for the local Age UK centre in Ashford, where Sam offers his time as a volunteer and also benefits from support.
Sam had initially earmarked 2014 for his Everest quest, but the arrival of twin grandchildren made him postpone the climb as he couldn't bear to part ways with them. Further delays occurred in 2015 when major earthquakes hit Nepal.
Emma-Jayne Thomas, 47, office team leader at Age UK and resident of Ashford, will be accompanying Sam on his challenge. A family friend who regards Sam as a "second dad", Emma-Jayne is "unbelievably proud" of his courage and determination to take on such an ambitious challenge.
Also part of the expedition is Cleo Smith, 49, chief officer at Age UK, hailing from Folkestone. The trio have embarked on rigorous training since January 2024 and have successfully raised upward of £20,000.
On October 14, they began their arduous 80-mile return journey. Sam expressed his excitement, half-jokingly suggesting that once he arrives at Everest Base Camp, he may find it hard to leave, quipping "the girls might have to tie me down".
Once Sam completes this impressive feat, he'll not only fulfil a dream but also carve out a new record as the eldest individual with Alzheimer's to reach Everest Base Camp -- a prospect he proudly acknowledges would be "a big achievement".
Sam shared: "Treat (Alzheimer's) the same way if you were climbing a mountain, just go straight to the top. Don't stop, don't think about it, it's there to be climbed and go up, don't give up. It's not a painful diagnosis, it's just a frustrating diagnosis. It doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying life either.
"All those years ago, I thought I'd be going to Everest on my own, but now it's got more purpose - it's not just for me, but for lots of people out there, and friends out there, who suffer with it. In my mind, these ladies that work there (at Age UK) are proper angels."
In 2022, Sam began noticing early symptoms of Alzheimer's. He recounted: "I used to pick up my grandson from Cubs, and one evening, I picked him up and suddenly I couldn't remember where I was. And being clever like I am, I gave him a challenge - I said, 'Show grandad how to get home', and he showed me the way. Anyway, he wasn't such a fool - walking through the door, he told his mum, and they told me to go and see someone."
After consulting a doctor, Sam was diagnosed, which he sensed caused concern for his family.
Resolute in showing that "life doesn't have to stop" with an Alzheimer's diagnosis, Sam set out to achieve his dream of scaling Everest. Sam has always had a zest for adventure - having travelled globally during his time in the military and even ascended Mount Annapurna in Nepal back in 2013.
In the year following his initial plans, he had aspired to conquer Everest, but with his daughter welcoming twins into the world, he felt compelled to stay close by. His adventurous spirit was further tested when in 2015, earthquakes rocked the region, causing yet another postponement of his dream.
Fast forward to August 2023; after his diagnosis, Sam found solace and companionship at Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford Age UK - his local Age UK day centre run by Emma-Jayne. After sharing his ambitions to trek to Base Camp to fundraise for the centre, Emma-Jayne and her boss, Cleo, were immediately on board, deeply moved by his mission.
Sam reminisced: "My family thought I was crazy, and still think I'm crazy, but the mountain is there to be climbed! " By January 2024, the intrepid trio had organised their expedition and launched into rigorous training, emphasising weightlifting and cardio, alongside a switch to more nutritious eating habits and ditching alcohol, with Emma-Jayne also quitting smoking. They are all set to embark on their journey on October 14, with a return slated for November 5.
The climb usually spans about 12 days, weather and acclimatisation permitting. Overflowing with excitement for the ascent, Sam is also determined to safeguard his companions, stating, "it's very, very, very strong in my heart that I need to get these girls back home".
Meanwhile, Cleo acknowledges one inescapable unknown: "One thing we haven't been able to train for is the altitude, so we've got to mentally prepare ourselves for that." She reminded us, "It's not just about the physical side of training."
The adventurous trio are steeling themselves for an emotional journey as they tackle the demanding trek to Everest Base Camp. With family at home and a lengthy separation ahead, they anticipate not only the physical but also the emotional challenges of their expedition.
"For all three of us, we've got family, and we've not been away from them for a long time. So it's all the emotional stuff we've got to mentally prepare ourselves for as well, which can be quite challenging, like not being able to phone home when we want to."
They are expecting a wave of disbelief mixed with triumph upon reaching their destination. Emma-Jayne reflected on the anticipated achievement: "We'll be on top of the world because we've achieved what we set out to do. I think the three of us will share a very emotional moment and a bond that will last a long time."
In a unique gesture of remembrance, Sam has decorated a rock, collected during training, with the names of their team and the logo of Age UK branches in Hythe, Lyminge, and Ashford. Their goal is to leave this memento at Base Camp as evidence of their hard-earned success.
Sam shared his combined feelings of determination and humour: "To get that far will be an achievement in itself; the girls might have to tie me down there, I don't think I'll want to leave! ".
Impressively, since January 2024, through various fundraising efforts and donations, the team has gathered over £20,000 and aims to hit a target of £30,000 once they complete their quest.
With ambitions high, upon return, Sam intends to contact Guinness World Records for a very special reason - he's poised to become the oldest individual to reach Base Camp diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He stated with a mix of humility and eagerness: "It'll be a big achievement, I suppose. It'll feel great, and I'll enjoy the competition side of it."
Despite confronting the reality of his Alzheimer's and its progressive impact, Sam's outlook remains audaciously positive, choosing to focus on the present rather than what the future may hold.
He remarked: "If I start getting way ahead of myself and thinking about things that I probably won't remember anyway, there's no point."
To support the team's fundraising efforts, visit www.gofundme.com/f/age-uk-hythe-lyminge-and-ashford-alzheimers. Age UK relies on public generosity to keep its vital services running, from local help to national programmes.
Whether it's scaling Everest or hosting a bake sale, details on how to fundraise for Age UK are available at www.ageuk.org.uk/fundraise