Caudwell Donates Cash To Medics Team

The former Phones 4u boss, entrepreneur John Caudwell, will provide a massive £500K cash donation to the Xtreme Everest medical experiment at the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust today.

The study, initiated by a team of medics from The UCL (University College London) is aimed at discovering how people’s bodies naturally adapt to low oxygen, so that their findings can be translated into improved care for patients who are critically ill.

Dr Mike Grocott, Expedition Leader said, “John, his brother Brian and four friends were one of the first groups of people to volunteer to take part in the medical experiment that involves treks to Everest Base Camp. Once he heard in detail about the serious medical science being explored, he decided to give the project his full support with a massive £500k cash donation.

“This is a wonderful boost for a British-led scientific experiment that is already gaining international acclaim. John should be applauded for his far-sightedness and generosity. Basically, John has so much faith in this medical project he has decided to buy into it, heart and soul plus hard cash.”

John Caudwell has already raised over £8 million for the Caudwell Charity that assists children with medical conditions. This new cash boost comes at a crucial time for the UCL medical team who need the funds to complete their clinical work.

John Caudwell said, “The fact that a close knit team of 40 doctors are conducting ground-breaking research on over 200 volunteers, that could ultimately benefit thousands of people in critical care, makes this a great cause to support.”

The Xtreme Everest medical experiment (xtreme-everest.co.uk) involves the testing of volunteers’ brain, lung and circulation functions prior to testing at altitude on Everest.

Starting in March, the 200 volunteers will trek to and from base camp (5,300 m) and be tested at five stages. At the same time, a summit team will set up the world’s highest medical lab on earth at Everest’s Western Cwm (7,000 m) and aim to become the first to extract arterial blood from the summit of the world’s highest mountain (8,850 m).

Dr Mike Grocott added, “The medical team successfully completed a full dress rehearsal on the Himalayan peak, Cho Oyu (8,201 m) in the autumn and are set to leave the UK in just twelve weeks’ time.”

As well as working as an Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, Dr Grocott is a Senior Lecturer in Intensive Care Medicine and Co-Director, CASE Medicine (Centre for Aviation Space and Extreme Environment Medicine) at the Institute of Human Health and Performance at The UCL’s Archway campus in North London.

The £1.5 million medical experiment is being entirely funded by private enterprise. BOC Medical have provided £300k support and a number of other organisations, including The London Clinic and Eli Lilly have also given cash assistance.

Find out more by visiting extreme-everest.co.uk and caudwellcharity.com.