A Dundee man is to climb Mount Everest in October in memory of his daughter-in-law, who tragically died aged 19 just days after her wedding.
Despite never having climbed before, 40-year-old Gary Manini is taking up the ultimate challenge in mountaineering to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis, the condition that took the life of Sammy Haralambous in August 2011.
Sammy died less than a fortnight after marrying Gary’s stepson Yanni (21), and just weeks after being told she was dying from the condition.
Gary, who is about to climb Ben Nevis as part of his training, said: “She was only given a couple of weeks’ notice by the doctors.
“But she told us that the thing she most wanted was to be married to our son it was what they both wanted.
“It was very bittersweet, we got them married in our garden in Broughty Ferry and the strength of their love really shone through that day.”
Sammy and Yanni were married on July 27 2011 and Sammy passed away in early August.
Gary said: “Cystic fibrosis is a horrible, horrible condition, but our family didn’t really know anything about it.
“There’s not really enough information in the community, but most sufferers don’t live beyond the age of 30.I decided to start fundraising for it and I’ve been helped by a young colleague at my work, Sean Burns.
“He lives in Carnoustie, he’s only 17 and is a former Arbroath Academy pupil.
“He told me his sister suffers from the same condition.”
He continued: “I’m climbing Ben Nevis in April as part of the fundraising and also Ben MacDuibh, the second highest mountain in Britain.
“I only decided to do this on October 19 and, coincidentally, I’m flying out to Nepal on the same date exactly a year later.
“I’m climbing up to base camp and my mate Danny from schooldays is coming with me. I’ll actually be in the Himalayas on what would have been Sammy’s 22nd birthday on October 26.”
Gary’s wife Elaine added yet another curious twist of fate to Sammy’s story.
She said: “Her best friend, Ashley Drummond, died on the same day in Ninewells. She was 19 as well, and they met on the CF network but hadn’t actually ever met her in person.
“Sammy died at 5pm and Ashley passed away about 11 o’clock after having an operation. When we went down to register Sammy’s death Ashley’s parents were at the registrar’s at the same time. It was very emotional.”
Gary’s fundraising efforts actually start on Friday with a race night at the Dundee Taxi Club, raising money for the Fans of Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a charitable group helping research into the condition.
He has organised several events over the next eight months, including the Ben Nevis climb, with a fundraiser on October 13, six days before he begins his 16-day trek in Nepal.
“I’m going to keep fundraising after that as well, though,” he added.
Fans of Cystic Fibrosis Trust, helped by Dundee-based Along Came Kirsty, aim to increase awareness of the condition, improve the level of treatment that can be provided and the quality of research that can be carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Tickets for Friday’s race night are £2. A football fundraiser is also to be held from 1pm on March 23 at Soccerworld, and a quiz night takes place at the Fort Hotel in April.
More information is available on Facebook while donations to the fund can be made at justgiving.com/Manini.