A Powys man will be tackling two of the fiercest peaks in Europe – in just a single week.

Andy O’Brien from Talgarth has dedicated 2024 to fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking on extreme challenges, including climbing Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn in the same week.

Poor weather conditions have prevented Andy from scaling Mont Blanc twice in the past, but he is determined that this will be third time lucky. Andy will be supported by a couple of friends – Aaron Thomas, who is leading the expedition, and Nathan Sanders, as he attempts to scale both summits in a week.

The climbs are scheduled for the summer and Andy has said living near the Brecon Beacons has proved especially useful in his training. 

“My dad was a man of the mountains – and I have always loved hiking,” said Andy. “To be honest, I don’t especially enjoy running as I have had eight knee surgeries and reconstruction procedures which are mostly the result of playing rugby and hi-contact martial arts.”

Andy is keen to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, and despite some injuries, he has already taken part in extreme events in Wales to raise money for the charity that offers emotional, practical, financial, and physical support to people living with cancer.

Andy to date has raised £10,000 for Cancer Research UK, £8,000 for Samaritans and currently has raised more than £2,500 through Mighty Hikes for Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Sadly, within just two weeks of moving to their new home in Talgarth in August 2023, Andy became all too aware of the devastating impact that a cancer diagnosis can have, as Andy’s wife Dione received the news that she had breast cancer and underwent surgery.

“The NHS have been amazing. There have been no delays and my wife has gone from diagnosis to surgery in just five to six weeks,” said Andy.

“At every step, as with my late sister and other family members, Macmillan have been there, advising, hand-holding and supporting her.”

In January, Dione began the OPTIMA Trial which aims to find out if using a test called Prosigna can help make safe and accurate decisions about whether or not chemotherapy treatment is needed for certain participants with ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer.

For three weeks from Monday to Friday, the couple made the near 100-mile round trip between Talgarth and Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, for Dione to undergo radiotherapy.

They will continue to make round trip once every three months for the next five years for Dione to receive her injection. Dione will continue to take medications for 10 years.

Speaking about Andy O’Brien’s fundraising challenges, Macmillan Relationship Fundraising Manager, Nicola Newhams, said: “In fundraising we like to aim high but Andy is taking this literally, with two mountain challenges in the one week. This is not an easy fundraising challenge and we wish him and his friends who are supporting him with these difficult climbs a safe and successful time.

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“We especially appreciate that Andy and Dione have had their own health challenges over the past few months and it hasn’t been the easiest of times to fundraise for us.

“More than three million people in the UK are living with the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis and it is down to the generosity of spirit and tenacity of our amazing fundraisers like Andy that Macmillan can be here to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer.

“At the moment Andy is half-way through reaching his £1,000 target for Macmillan Cancer Support. If you would like to support Andy, please visit his JustGiving page Andy O'Brien is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support (justgiving.com) and donate whatever you can afford.”