Southsiders urged to find their inner Bear

A SOUTHSIDE adventurer who has climbed three of the world’s seven summits is encouraging people to find their inner Bear Grylls and take a walk on the wild side for charity. 

Dermot Magee, from Stepaside, has trekked Aconagua in South America, Elbrus in Russia and climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa with Ireland’s largest humanitarian aid agency, Concern Worldwide, in 2012.

The 36-year-old began as a volunteer with them in 2011 and has helped with its annual Climb4Concern mountain challenges in the UK and Ireland ever since.

He said: “Climbing for Concern has been a real life-changing experience for me. It give me the motivation to do other climbs across the world, appreciate our beautiful Irish landscape while thinking about people who aren’t as fortunate as ourselves.”

The first of this year’s Climb4Concern challenges is Mweelrea, near Westport, Co Mayo, which is the highest mountain in Connacht, and is taking place on Saturday, April 16.

The adventurous trek is open to people of all abilities and Dermot is encouraging everyone from fitness fanatics to couch potatoes to take part.

He said: “When I first started, I was relatively fit but I didn’t really know what to expect.

“What I love the most of these climbs is that everyone is treated equally, there’s no competitiveness and you make friends quickly. 

“Mweelrea is one of the lesser known mountains in Ireland. It’s quite barren and isolated but breathtakingly beautiful. It’s certainly different to the humdrum of city life.”

Concern’s team of experts, including Dermot, will lead a team of men and women of all ages up the Mayo mountain and they will have the the added option of climbing Ireland’s Holy Mountain, 764 metre high Croagh Patrick, the following day.

Dermot has raised over €17,000 for Concern since he started as a volunteer with funds going to help people living in extreme poverty or who have been affected by conflicts and natural disasters in counties like Syria, South Sudan, Chad, Haiti and Niger.

The Mweelrea climb on April 16 will be followed by The Three Glens challenge in Co Wicklow on May 21.

On July 9 there is a trek up Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil in Co Kerry.

Dermot added: “It’s nice to be able to give your weekend up doing something that is fun and healthy while helping people in some of the world’s most impoverished areas. 

“Who knows, you might end up really enjoying it and doing all the challenges, it can get addictive after a while.”

Anyone interested in taking part in Climb4Concern is urged to contact Siobhan O’Connor at 01 4178028 or at siobhan.oconnor@concern.net To see what challenges are happening look at the website www.showyourconcern.net