Alex Staniforth

Alex Staniforth (born 1995, in Chester, Cheshire, England) is an adventurer, speaker, author and charity ambassador from Cheshire, United Kingdom. He has made two attempts to climb Mount Everest and completed numerous endurance challenges. His debut book 'Icefall' was published in March 2016 and is an autobiographical account of his attempts to climb Everest. In July 2017, Staniforth became the fastest person to climb all 100 UK county tops in 72 days.[1][2][3]

Alex in Kathmandu in 2016

Early life

Staniforth was born in Chester, Cheshire in 1995. He grew up in Kelsall and attended Tarporley High School and Sixth Form College.[2]

Everest

Staniforth first attempted to climb Mount Everest aged 18. After reaching Everest Base Camp from Lukla, he and his team were preparing for their bid on the summit when an avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall killed 16 climbing Sherpas. The decision was taken to abandon the expedition.[4]

Staniforth returned to Everest in 2015. On 25 April 2015, the Nepal earthquake struck. The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and precipitated several avalanches on Everest, one of which hit base camp and killed 3 Sherpas in Staniforth's team. He and his team was just below Camp 1 (6,050m) and became stranded on the mountain for two days before evacuation by helicopter.[5]

Cho Oyu

In Autumn 2016, Staniforth attempted to climb the world's sixth highest mountain Cho Oyu which stands at over 8,000 meters, in preparation for another attempt on Everest in the near future. He reached Camp 2 (7,125 meters) before abandoning his summit bid.[6][7]

Book

Staniforth's autobiography, 'Icefall', was published in March 2016 by Coventry House Publishing.[8][9] It tells how he has overcome adversity since his childhood in Cheshire and his two Everest attempts. Adventurers Bear Grylls and Mark Wood both endorsed the book. 'Icefall' won a bronze medal in the Readers Favorite International Book Contest 2016.[10]

In summer 2016, Staniforth toured the UK signing books and talking about his experiences.[11]

Charity work

Staniforth is a charity fundraiser and ambassador for YHA England and Wales and PHASE Worldwide. [12][13]

In August 2016, Staniforth became an ambassador for PHASE Worldwide.[14] He has worked with PHASE since he helped to organise the 'Walk for Nepal' event on the anniversary of the earthquake in April 2016. Over 120 people, including Staniforth, climbed Mount Snowdon in Wales and raised over £20,000 for PHASE.[15]

Awards

After fundraising over £24,000 for mental health charity Young Minds UK, Staniforth won the Pride of Britain 'Fundraiser of the Year' award for the ITV Granada Reports region.[16][17]

Speaking

Staniforth tours the UK as a speaker to a variety of audiences including schools, corporate audiences, charities and conferences[18][19][20]

References
  1. Bailey, Dan. "Alex Staniforth Completes Record-Breaking 100-Peak challenge". www.ukhillwalking.com. UK Hillwalking. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  2. Staniforth, Alex (2016). Icefall. United Kingdom: Coventry House Publishing. ISBN 978-0692594148.
  3. "Climber ends peaks challenge in Wales". BBC News. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  4. Arnette, Alan (2014-04-28). "Everest 2014: Everest Functionally Closed: The Big Picture - Update 4". Alan Arnette. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  5. "British teen 'incredibly shocked' after Everest rescue". ITV News. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  6. "ALEX STANIFORTH | Adversity to Adventure | Speaker, Fundraiser, Author". www.alexstaniforth.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  7. "Double Summit - Cho Oyu 2016". 360 Expeditions. 2016-10-24. Archived from the original on 2017-10-27.
  8. "Our Books - Coventry House Publishing". Coventry House Publishing. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  9. "Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World". Amazon UK. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  10. "2016 Book Award Contest Winners". Readers Favorite. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  11. Alex (2016-05-02). "Icefall – the book tour!". Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  12. "PHASE Worldwide". www.phaseworldwide.org.
  13. "YHA England & Wales". www.yha.org.uk. YHA England & Wales.
  14. "Ambassador: Alex Staniforth – PHASE Worldwide". phaseworldwide.org. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  15. PHASE Worldwide, PHASE Worldwide. "Walk For Nepal 2018 Ben Nevis". www.phaseworldwide.org. PHASE Worldwide. Archived from the original on 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  16. "Judges choose their Pride of Britain Granada 2017 winner". ITV News. 2017-10-20.
  17. "Adventurer enthusiast, Alex Staniforth, will be taking on a number of challenges for Young Minds over the next year". Young Minds. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  18. "ALEX STANIFORTH | Adversity to Adventure | Speaker, Fundraiser, Author". alexstaniforth.com. Archived from the original on 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  19. "Book Alex Staniforth with Pro-Motivate Speakers Agency Europe". Pro-Motivate Speakers Agency. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
  20. "Wells students recognised in special event at Holkham Hall". Eastern Daily Press. 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-10-27.
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