(Posted 8:30 a.m., April 11)
Montfort Hospital group departs for Himilayas
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

A group of physicians, professionals and business leaders representing the Montfort Hospital are heading to Katmandu, Nepal this weekend where they will set out on a three-week trek to Mount Everest to help raise money for a new scanning machine for the surgery department.

The 23-member group will be led by veteran Ottawa climber Ben Webster who will be making his sixth trip to the roof of the world.

The group is entirely made up of amateur climbers, including Monftort CEO Dr. Bernard Leduc, who have been training for the expedition for several weeks now. The expedition will take the trekkers to the Mount Everest base camp which is 5,357 metres above sea level.

On the way they will present a cheque for $50,000 to the Lukla Hospital in Nepal which traditionally provides medical services to the numerous expeditions that come to Mount Everest every spring. The hosipital also serves the local community in the Khumba Valley which has one of the highest infant and mother mortality rates in the world.

Montfort Hospital Foundation president Christine Sigouin says the trekkers have been preparing for weeks exercising on their own and going on group outings to the Gatineau Hills and Lake Placid.

Besides Dr. Leduc, Montfort Foundation board members Francois Lortie and Albert Bourdeau are also heading to the Himilayas.

Members of the public can follow the expedition's progress at http://blogfondationmontfort.com/ where you can also donate on-line.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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