School vice principal, mom and soon to be a Summits of Hope participant.
Ladner’s Sarah Garr is embarking on quite the challenge this August as part of the Summits of Hope climbing team that will be travelling to Machu Picchu in Peru in support of BC Children's Hospital.
She has committed to raising $5,000 and has raised just over $1,000 so far.
A vice principal at MacNeil Secondary in Richmond, Garr’s students are actively fundraising to support her and she has a community pub night fundraiser set for Saturday, June 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Landing Pub in Ladner.
Garr learned about the Summits of Hope through a colleague in North Vancouver.
“It’s a challenge for me in two ways. The fundraising aspect is challenging because I have never done anything quite like this before and then you have the physical challenge of it,” she said. “It’s mostly getting used to the endurance – how many days in a row you are consistently doing the hours on the trail and then there is the altitude aspect as well, which is unique to that area.”
Training for the altitude change is next to impossible.
“We will take the altitude medication beforehand, but I just don’t know how I’m going to react,” she said. “I’m a very active person. I’ve done some major hikes and such, but never something like this. But I like to push myself physically and, of course, my interest in helping sick kids is certainly motivation enough.”
When she has time, she is preparing by biking, hiking, paddle boarding and doing yoga.
She adds that she will have more time to devote to training once the school year ends for her in mid-July.
“I’m nervous, but I’m also quite excited,” she said. “It’s really all about your mindset and getting in that mental space to push yourself. I want to be a role model for my son and for my students.”
More information on Garr’s fundraising mission can be found online at SummitsOfHope.com/ClimberProfile/Sarah_Garr.
