Hannibal John walks Alps for charity

A LICHFIELD man is poised to tackle the Alps in the name of Alzheimer's as he walks from France to Switzerland to raise funds.

When Hannibal crossed the Alps, he had the support of numerous elephants and an invincible army.

But in just three weeks, John Mulqueen will be undertaking a similar challenge equipped with little more than a sleeping bag, a Swiss Army knife and three bars of Kendal mint cake.

Mr Mulqueen, whose mother suffers with Alzheimer's disease, is aiming to travel from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.

And it won't be his first charity crusade – last year he completed an 11-day trek around Mont Blanc.

"My mum has the condition and I have seen how this terrible disease affects not only the person with it but their carers and families too," said Mr Mulqueen, who tries to undertake a challenge to raise money for charity every year.

Last year, he spent 11 days walking the Tour du Mont Blanc and will shortly be braving the infamous Haute Route, from July 1-15.

One of the classic Alpine treks, it runs from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland.

It is a challenging route which involves a 14,000-metre ascent, crossing a distance of 184 kilometres, traversing two glaciers and 14 nights spent in remote mountain huts.

"This year my chosen charities are the Alzheimer's Society and the Friends of Footherley Hall nursing home," added Mr Mulqueen.

"I am hoping to raise over £1,000 and if anyone would like to sponsor me then please either contact me directly by email, johnmulqueen@pro-active.fsbusiness.co.uk or visit www.justgiving.com/johnmulqueenhauteroute."