Boxer Jason Quigley and Donegal group reach Everest Base Camp

A group of 13 people from Donegal, including boxer Jason Quigley, have reached the Everest Base Camp.

After eight days of challenging conditions, the group - who have made the voyage in aid of the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation - have reached their destination.

The gang, led by Jono Griffin of Wild and Free Adventure Co in Donegal Town - now on his eighth mission to Everest Base Camp - flew to Nepal on March 5.

They reached the South Base Camp of Everest on Sunday. The base camp is at 5,364m - nine times the height of Sliabh Liag.

You can donate to their cause by clicking here.

“Getting a bit light-headed,” Quigley shared on Sunday morning as the group left Gorakshep, the last settlement before Everest Base Camp.

Later, a proud Quigley, sharing stunning views of the daunting Everest peak, said: “Here we are, eight days and 5,364m mater, Everest Base Camp”.

The group also includes Ciaran McHugh, Kris Alison, Matthew Alison, Shauna Chambers, Anna Good, Paul Good, Karen Walden, Mark Hartigan, Jason Connor, Andrea Dillon and Linda Adams.

Quigley was initially approached by Ballybofey woman Annmarie McGeehan and he was immediately interested. 

Quigley fought in a 2013 AIBA World Boxing final in Kazakhstan and in 2021 challenged Demetrius Andrade for the WBO World Middleweight title in Boston. For a period in 2013, he was the number 1 ranked amateur middleweight in the world.

“Bluestack Special Needs Foundation is an unbelievable group,” Quigley says.

“Any time I have ever done anything for them, I walk away and feel like I have got so much out of it myself.

Read next: Illness sees Mark English withdraw from World Indoor Championships

“I was at the Bluestack Foundation sports day at the Finn Valley Centre and handed out their prizes. I was 100% interested from the start. Annmarie has backed me and supported me since. 

“Our drive and our dedication is to the Bluestack Foundation; that will get us to where we’re going. We have a reason and a purpose to what we’re doing and it’ll drive us on. It will be the experience of a lifetime too and I’m really excited.”