NNUH Surgeon to climb Europe’s highest mountain for hospital charity

Mr Waldemar Bartosik, NNUH Thoracic Surgeon

A Thoracic Surgeon from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will be setting out to climb Europe’s highest mountain next month to raise funds for the hospital charity.

Waldemar Bartosik, who has worked as a Thoracic Surgeon at the NNUH for five years, is planning to climb Mount Elbrus, in Russia which is the tenth most prominent peak in the world. Money raised will go towards funding new equipment in the thoracic surgery department at the hospital.

Mr Bartosik is a pioneer of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) at the NNUH and is no stranger to taking on challenges. He said: “Last year I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and this year I wanted to set myself a brand new challenge. It’s going to be a very tough time and we are planning to complete the climb in approximately seven days.”

Mr Bartosik will be flying to Moscow with a group of 15 friends on June 6th to begin the challenge. Mount Elbrus is part of the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia, and with an elevation of 18,510 feet, it is the highest mountain in Europe. The group of climbers will be climbing on glaciers and snow with crampons, ice axes and climbing harnesses.

Having supported the hospital charity on several previous occasions, Mr Bartosik said: “The thoracic surgery department provides lifesaving surgery to a population of approaching 1.5 million in East Anglia. Surgical procedures are carried out to diagnose and treat lung, pleural and tracheal cancers, stenting and laser procedures as well as benign chest conditions.”

He said: “I thought undertaking this challenge would be a great way to raise money for our charity and support NNUH patients at the same time.”

Louise Cook, NNUH Fundraising Manager said: “Waldemar’s support for the hospital charity is absolutely incredible. Whilst the NHS provides the necessities, the charity funds projects that make the hospital experience a better one for our patients. We are so grateful that money raised will go towards supporting our fantastic thoracic surgery department.”

Mr Bartosik is hoping to raise £2,000 in total for the hospital charity. If you would like to support him on his Mount Elbrus climb, you can do so by visiting his JustGiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/Waldemar-Bartosik1