Calum’s Nepalese Fundraising Challenge

News
By bellmannews / August 25, 2025
Beautiful image of climber on mountain top with sunset behind

By Suz Elvey of MS Society Scotland

A 52-year-old Stonehaven chef and business owner is well on his way to achieving a childhood dream as he prepares to climb the world’s eighth highest mountain – and it was his sister who inspired him to do it.

Calum Richardson, chef and director at The Bay Fish and Chips, will fly out to Nepal next month to tackle Manaslu. At 8,163m (26,781 ft), it’s six times the height of Scotland’s Ben Nevis, and fewer than 100 British climbers have ever summitted it.

The father of four is taking on the challenge to raise funds for the MS Society and to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS), which his sister Karen Richardson has lived with for 20 years.

Calum, who also owns hospitality business coaching programme Forked Up and served in the Royal Navy before entering the food and drink industry, said: “I’ve always wanted to climb Everest; it’s something that’s been in my head since I was a child. But, like most people, you never really do these things, or you can’t afford to do them.

“When my sister’s MS started getting worse, she sold her house and lived with my wife and me for a year while she looked for accommodation that would be easier for her. When Karen was living with us it really opened my eyes. Where she was at with her MS, and where we thought she was at, were two different things. It made me realise you need to go and do stuff while you can.”

MS is a condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. It impacts how people move, think, and feel.

With Calum’s sights set on not only achieving his childhood dream, but also honouring his sister, his wife Viktorija bought her husband a trek to Everest Base Camp for his fiftieth birthday. After completing the expedition last year, Calum said he was “hooked” on climbing mountains. He undertook the 16-day challenge with Nepalese company Elite Exped, trekking with one of its founders, record-breaking mountaineer Mingma David Sherpa, who inspired him to keep pushing himself towards his ultimate goal of conquering Everest.

Calum has since summitted Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak at 5,895m (19,341ft), with Viktorija. As part of the climb, they completed a ‘mindset masterclass’, which for Calum was about “seeing whether I could go higher, and also whether I enjoyed it”. Last year he climbed Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America at 6,961m (22,838ft), following the guidance of Mingma David and fellow Elite Exped founder Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE, who previously served in both the British Army, with the Brigade of Gurkhas, and in the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS). 

Calum revealed: “Manaslu is my next progressive step, because if I can complete this I’m aiming to do Everest in April.”

And he’s taking preparation for that next step seriously. In addition to climbing to progressively higher altitudes, Calum’s working with both a breathing coach and specialists in altitude acclimatisation.

He continued: “When I was climbing Aconcagua I noticed I needed to improve my breathing. It’s something we take for granted but I had a damaged nose as a kid and even though I had an operation as an adult I’ve never been great at breathing through my nose. My coach is teaching me how to do nasal breathing, slowing my breath down, and helping me get more out of each breath. He’s been showing me stats about where the oxygen was going in my blood. I’m quite a ‘facts’ guy and I found it very interesting.

“I’ve also signed up to an altitude centre and rented one of their machines for the three months before I go to Manaslu. I sit with the mask on for an hour every night ‘at altitude’ and I wear it to train on my bike in the garage. I’m also sleeping in an altitude tent at night. It means when I go to Manaslu I’ll have already acclimatised a lot at home.

“It’s a long and intensive process but I’m trying to increase my chance of summitting, and trying to increase my chance of staying safe. You find when you get older that you’ve got to listen to your body and maximise everything you can get out of it.”

Calum’s love of outdoor adventure got off to a slightly rocky start. His Dad enjoyed hiking and would encourage Calum and Karen to join him on walks when they were children. Or as Calum recalls: “He used to drag me up the mountains kicking and screaming while all my mates were playing on their BMXs!”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Calum’s altered work scheduled allowed him to “get back into” hiking and climbing, eventually completing Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail, both in aid of charities.

He continued: “I find that when I go in the mountains I switch off to the mundane life. It’s good for my mental health. And being away from home makes me miss my family, which makes me appreciate my wife and kids and everything at home even more.

“The MS Society was Karen’s choice. As well as raising money she really wants me to use this opportunity to raise some awareness. If more people understood MS it would help people who’ve got it tremendously.

“I feel good, I feel excited. I’m confident because I know the company I’m going with. Not only do I take inspiration from Mingma David, Nims, and the team but I feel safe with them. They don’t take risks, which is really important, especially when you’re getting into these kind of heights. I don’t take risks now because I’ve got family to come back to.”

Karen, Viktorija and Calum – at sea level

Calum thanked everyone who’s sponsored him so far, adding: “Everyone always supports me, always. I find that when I’m on the mountain, when I’m away doing something, that’s when most of the sponsorship comes in. I know times are difficult for people but even if everyone I know puts a pound in, that would be a lot of money.

“I’m aware that fewer than 100 climbers from the UK have successfully summited Manaslu. If I became one of the first 100 Brits to do it, the joy would be overwhelming. But the main thing for me is to climb it and after that I can celebrate all those extra fun bits. For me it’s about focusing on just getting there; for my sister and for the MS Society.”

The MS Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by MS.  For 70 years it’s been at the forefront of support, research, and campaigning to improve the lives of people affected by MS. 

Jo Anderson, Director for Scotland at the MS Society, said: “Huge thanks to Calum for taking on this tough challenge to raise vital funds and increase awareness of MS.

“More than 17,000 people in Scotland, and more than 150,000 people throughout the UK, live with MS. But research has shown that many people still don’t have a good understanding of the condition. Calum’s right when he says MS can be easier to manage if you’re surrounded by people who understand the impact it can have.

“When our wonderful supporters help to increase awareness of the different ways MS can affect people, as Calum is doing with help from his sister Karen, it really does make a positive difference to our community.

“We wish Calum the very best of luck for summiting Manaslu and also for achieving his dream of climbing Everest.”