Nurse due to trek to Everest base camp for charity close to her heart

An orthopaedic theatre nurse practitioner from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is preparing to trek to the base of Everest to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

27 year old Francesca Cammarata from Norwich is leaving for Nepal on 7th March and will trek to the Everest base camp over 14 days. Francesca completed a similar challenge in 2010 when she completed the Inca Trail trek for the BHF. Francesca is aiming to raise £4000 for the charity to help fund more research, BHF cardiac nurses, education and community automated external defibrillators. So far Francesca has raised £3600 in donations from friends, family, businesses and bake sales.

Francesca said: “Heart disease runs in my family and I have friends who either have siblings or children with congenital heart disease. If it wasn't due to the research done by the British Heart Foundation, their lives would be very different today.”

Francesca has been training by walking five miles three times a week, plus cardio and strength training at least four times a week. She also does yoga and pilates to help strengthen muscles and joints and to help prevent injuries.

Francesca added: “My colleagues have been really supportive and they are really excited for me. Some of them are a little envious and are looking forward to me coming back with stories to tell and lots of photos to show them. I am really excited about but a little nervous because it is at high altitude and I’ll reach above 5500m.”

To sponsor Francesca visit http://www.justgiving.com/Francesca-Cammarata