Sunshine Coast Graduate Paramedic and Adventurer raises over $10,000 for QAS Legacy
November 19, 2017
Cancer survivor and experienced mountaineer Rhys Greedy ran a 6-month fundraising campaign with a goal to raise $10,000 for the Qld Ambulance Service Legacy Scheme. Rhys has a back story. In 2009 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, just two weeks before his 21st birthday, while stationed with the army in Townsville. In a Sunshine Coast Daily article Rhys was quoted to have said:
“I’ve had dealings with patients who’ve had the same diagnosis as me but have unfortunately gone down another path. It’s hard to put into words, but you share a bond with these people who have gone through the same circumstances as you have yourself. It’s certainly made me appreciate how lucky I am.”
In 2014 Rhys reached five years of remission and travelled to Nepal to climb to Annapurna base camp on a 17-day trek while fundraising for Lymphoma Australia. In July of the next year, he conducted another trip to Mont Blanc in France, this time to support cancer sufferers on the Sunshine Coast.
In 2016 Rhys launched yet another campaign to raise funds this time for the children’s ward at Nambour Hospital and the physical challenge he set himself was to complete the four-day hike 6000m up the highest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro.
This year Rhys chose the Queensland Ambulance Service Legacy Scheme and set the fundraising goal and when about business as usual to raise the funds and awareness of what QAS Legacy does. Rhys again set a personal challenge and this year was to climb to 6500m in Nepal’s highest trekking mountain to Mera Peak. Totalling more than 6000 metres, the expedition is the highest trek in Nepal usually taking upwards of 17 days to complete.
Due to time restraints, Rhys aimed to complete the trek in just 12 days. “It’s going to be a big challenge,” he was quoted to have said. “In terms of the physical challenge, it’s going to be substantially harder.”
Rhys successfully raise over $10,000 prior to leaving for Nepal in September. Unfortunately, the challenges of the Nepalese mountains were too much for Rhys, and due to concerns about his health and for safety reasons, he was unable to reach the peak as planned. Rhys did climb to 6476m which was a new personal record for him.
The QAS Legacy Scheme supports four children from three families upon the passing of a Qld Ambulance Officer. Without the support of awesome people like Rhys Greedy, we would not be able to assist these families. If you would like details on how to donate or how to help email us at info@qaslegacy.org
