Veteran set to become oldest person with Alzheimer's to reach Everest Base Camp

A 79-year-old army veteran is on track to set a record as the oldest man with Alzheimer’s to reach Everest Base Camp, saying the condition is like "climbing a mountain".

Sam Bunting, from Ashford, Kent, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022, decided to pursue his lifelong dream to climb Everest and and will do so to raise funds for his local Age UK hub, where he volunteers and recieves support. Sam's initial 2014 Everest ambitions were put on hold when he became a grandad to twins and then the devastating Nepal earthquakes in 2015 further delayed his plan.

Joining Sam on this journey is Emma-Jayne Thomas, 47, a team leader at Age UK who also lives in Ashford – a lifelong family friend who has always seen Sam as a “second dad”, she is “unbelievably proud” of him. , Age UK’s chief officer, 49, from Folkestone, Kent, will also be joining them, and the trio have been training intensively since January 2024, and raised more than £20,000.

On October 14 they set off on their 80-mile round trip – Sam, brimming with excitement, joked that once he reaches Everest Base Camp, he might not “want to leave” adding that “the girls might have to tie me down”.

Sam said: "Treat (Alzheimer’s) the same way if you were climbing a mountain, just go straight to the top. Don’t stop, don’t think about it, it’s there to be climbed and go up, don’t give up."

"It’s not a painful diagnosis, it’s just a frustrating diagnosis. It doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying life either."

"All those years ago, I thought I’d be going to Everest on my own, but now it’s got more purpose – it’s not just for me, but for lots of people out there, and friends out there, who suffer with it. In my mind, these ladies that work there (at Age UK) are proper angels."

In 2022, Sam began noticing early signs of Alzheimer’s. He remembered: "I used to pick up my grandson from Cubs, and one evening, I picked him up and suddenly I couldn’t remember where I was. And being clever like I am, I gave him a challenge – I said, ‘Show grandad how to get home’, and he showed me the way."

"Anyway, he wasn’t such a fool – walking through the door, he told his mum, and they told me to go and see someone." After consulting a doctor, Sam was diagnosed, which he believed "worried" his family.

Sam said "life doesn’t have to stop" with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, so he set out to achieve his dream of scaling Everest. Sam has always had a zest for adventure – having travelled the globe during his time in the armed forces, and even climbed Mount Annapurna in Nepal back in 2013. The following year, he had his sights set on scaling Everest, but the birth of his daughter's twins made him reconsider. His plans were further delayed in 2015 when earthquakes rocked the region.

By August 2023, after receiving his diagnosis, Sam began frequenting his local Age UK day centres in Hythe, Lyminge and Ashford, where Emma-Jayne works. He shared his ambition to reach Base Camp and fundraise for the day centre, a goal that Emma-Jayne and her boss, Cleo, immediately agreed to support.

Sam said: "My family thought I was crazy, and still think I’m crazy, but the mountain is there to be climbed! " By January 2024, the trio had booked their expedition and started daily training, focusing mainly on weightlifting and cardio. They've since adopted healthier diets and quit drinking, with Emma-Jayne also giving up smoking.

The team is scheduled to embark on October 14, returning on November 5. The climb usually takes about 12 days, depending on conditions and altitude acclimatisation. Sam is "very excited" about the challenge but is equally committed to "looking after" Cleo and Emma-Jayne, saying "it’s very, very, very strong in my heart that I need to get these girls back home".

Cleo added: "One thing we haven’t been able to train for is the altitude, so we’ve got to mentally prepare ourselves for that. It’s not just about the physical side of training. For all three of us, we’ve got family, and we’ve not been away from them for a long time," one member shared, highlighting the mental preparation needed beyond the physical.

"So it’s all the emotional stuff we’ve got to mentally prepare ourselves for as well, which can be quite challenging, like not being able to phone home when we want to." Emma-Jayne said: "We’ll be on top of the because we’ve achieved what we set out to do. I think the three of us will share a very emotional moment and a bond that will last a long time."

Sam has crafted a special rock to leave at Base Camp, symbolising their achievement and the support from Hythe, Lyminge, and Ashford Age UK. He said: "To get that far will be an achievement in itself; the girls might have to tie me down there, I don’t think I’ll want to leave! "

They have raised over £20,000, with sights set on a £30,000 target. Sam aims to make history by submitting his feat to Guinness World Records as the oldest person to reach Base Camp with Alzheimer’s. Sam said: "It’ll be a big achievement, I suppose. It’ll feel great, and I’ll enjoy the competition side of it."

Despite the inevitable progression of his condition, Sam chooses to stay positive and focus on the present. He remarked: "If I start getting way ahead of myself and thinking about things that I probably won’t remember anyway, there’s no point."

To support the team's efforts, you can donate at their GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/age-uk-hythe-lyminge-and-ashford-alzheimers. Age UK relies on public generosity for its local and national services, through donations and fundraising activities. You can find out how to fundraise for Age UK at: www.ageuk.org.uk/fundraise.