A brave family, who walked across the Alps in memory of a teenage friend who died from a heart condition, has raised more than £1,000 for a cardiac charity that aims to end young deaths.
Linda and Gottfried Panzer and their son, Christian, 17, were close friends of Tom Clabburn, who died three years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition, aged only 14. Since then Tom’s family and friends have raised more than £30,000 for the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
The Panzers, of Gurnleigh Road, Ealing, have just returned from a 78-mile trip across the Alps and so far raised more than £1,100 in sponsorship.
Linda, 46, said they wanted to raise awareness of Tom’s condition, as well a money for CRY and thought the timing was perfect as Tom would have been 18 this year.
She said it was an incredible challenge but the family, who also travelled with Gottfried’s 75-year-old work colleague from Heston and two friends from Warwickshire, were very proud of their achievement.
She said: “About 40 per cent of the ‘walk’ could be redefined as a climb. We were up before dawn – 3.30am British time for Breakfast – and got a god start on 10-hour day hikes. We waded through freezing rivers, having slung our boots across to the opposite bank, navigated landslides in Austria and managed three-minute showers with warm water before it became ice cold.
“One of many highlights was walking on glaciers without skis or crampons. the Italian boarder crossing was the highest peak at 3,000m (close to where Otzi the ice man was discovered) and we tramped though snow fields with backpacks to get there – a bit tough that one!
“I can’t tell you how magnificent the whole experience was. It was more than a physical journey – really something that has the capacity to turn your soul inside out.”
The family, who became friendly with Tom and his family through Little Ealing School, were devastated at his sudden death.
Linda said: “Tom was a really special child. He was such a joy to be with and had something about him; one of those people who might change the world.”
