Story 12 February 2022

Funda's fundraising expedition to Antarctica

On 21st December, Funda is planning to join a 20-day Expedition voyage to Antarctica, the world’s coldest, highest, driest, and windiest 7th Continent. While making this journey she will be taking the Polar Plunge challenge - jumping to -5 degrees Celsius water in Antarctica - to raise awareness and fundraise for Harry and Stan’s Transplant Troopers’ Fund, which is managed by King's College Hospital Charity.

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Funda preparing for her mighty expedition

Harry’s mum Catherine describes the origin and purpose of the Fund:

"Harry and Stan’s Transplant Troopers is a fund set up in memory of 2 beautiful boys that lost their lives, following a Small Bowel Transplant. This fund replaced The Harry Matthews Bowel Transplant Trust, (when my energy ran out) and King's College Hospital kindly took the charity on. We chose to also honour Stan as a legacy for the boys."

The fund, based at King's, helps children and families in financial crisis that have to undergo a Small Bowel Transplant. The hurdles they face are huge and support is low, due to this form of transplant being relatively newer and less well known, with increased infection risks.


 

"Funda is an amazing lady that has chosen to support the fund through her expedition to Antarctica. We are so grateful to her as we know families have continued to struggle just as we did", says Catherine.

Often parents have no money for food, petrol and can lose their homes, purely due to the transplant process. The level of care required for the children up to and beyond transplantation, often requires a parent to leave their career and become the child's sole carer. Train travel is impossible directly after transplant, due to infection risks, therefore parents have to be able to drive to London, from wherever they live in the UK. Parents also stay on the ward with their child throughout. 

 

The team that runs the fund at King's, has honoured the initial Harry Matthews charity model. A professional visits these families, in hardship, regularly on the ward. This means that they are able to offer immediate financial support at point of contact, basically ensuring that it reaches the neediest.

 

 

Funda is taking on the challenge of a lifetime

"My gateway for this expedition starts from the 'End of the World'- Argentina’s small town called Ushuaia", says Funda.

"After sailing 36 hours we will reach The Falkland Island/Malvinas to enter Antarctic waters towards the mountainous, remote island South Georgia. The land of superlatives! Based on weather, ice and opportunity we will approach the Antarctic Peninsula while passing large tabular icebergs. The final part of my journey is crossing - the Drake Passage - in 48 hours in turbulent seas. If modern medicine does not work, I am also taking a couple of copper pennies to tape to my belly button to cure seasickness as they used to."

 

Braving one of the most formidable continents in the world is a true testament to Funda's selfless courage and determination. Thank you Funda!

Organise your own fundraising event

 

If you are inspired by Funda's story, why not organise your own fundraising event? Whether it's a bake sale, endurance challenge or sponsored walk, any money raised will go far in helping us to take care further for patients, staff and their families at King's. 

Fundraise for King's