Ailsa Wright - Attempting to become the youngest Briton to climb the seven summits.

You’d think gaining your A levels would be a big enough challenge for any 18 year old 6th form Student. Last year however, Ailsa Wright from Northampton set herself the challenge to climb the seven summits: The highest mountain on each of the seven continents. If successful she will become the youngest Briton to ever complete the challenge.

Ailsa is carrying out her challenge in order to raise money for the amazing Make a Wish Foundation, which grants magical wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. As well as completing the seven summits to raise money for the foundation, Ailsa is also training to become a Make a Wish volunteer in the near future. Assisting in granting the wishes of children: From becoming a policeman or a princess for a day, to owning the latest computer or meeting their favourite celebrity.
 
 It took several months to start getting the challenge into the local media, and raise enough to complete the first climb, and in October this year Ailsa  reached her first peak - Uhuru on Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.

The seven summits is regarded as on of the hardest mountaineering challenges, first postulated as such in the 1980s by Richard Bass.

Many mountain climbers, beyond the approximately 200 who have completed the huge challenge, aspire to complete the seven ascents, but the expense, the demands placed on fitness, the physical hardship and the dangers involved are often too great.

The Seven Summits gives a focus to Mountaineers worldwide, most people can start the challenge with the easier peaks of Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Kosciuszko and Elbrus, gaining the strength and expertise to attempt colder peaks of Vinson and Denali, and finally Mount Everest, the prize jewel of mountaineering.

It is a unique challenge having to travel and climb in every corner of the globe, though the journey to climb all seven is long and difficult; accomplishing it is a great achievement to which many aspire.           

Ailsa is now in training and preparation for the next climb: Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America and the entire American continent. She will be carrying out this climb over the Christmas and new year period!  
 
The seven summits are:

Everest (29,029ft) Asia
Aconcagua (22,840ft) South America
Mckinley (20,320ft) North America
Kilimanjaro (19,339ft) Africa
Elbrus (18,481ft) Europe
Vinson (16,067ft) Antarctica
Kosciuszko (7,310ft) Australasia

Ailsa is hoping to finish all seven summits by climbing Mt Everest in spring 2009.

Further details about the seven summits challenge and Ailsa Wright, including online sponsorship, a photo gallery and a personal blog can be found at www.ailsawright.co.uk

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