Lethbridge man climbs Mt. Everest to bring awareness for the need to stop domestic violence

Trevor Stuart began his journey to climb Mount Everest on Mar. 29. On Sunday he reached the summit.

His wife Nancy received a text from the top of the world the moment it happened.

“When I got that text it was like, I started to get all teary, I was like’ oh my God’ he climbed Everest, it was surreal,” said Nancy.

Cold, tired and exhausted, Stuart trekked his way up the mountain, documenting his trip along the way.

When he reached the top, he posted a statement on Facebook that said, “So many emotions run wild when one stands on the highest point of the planet. Thanks to all my sponsors, friends and family for your never ending love and support! TOGETHER we elevate lives!”

Stuart is an avid climber, and has reached peaks in the past for non-profit organizations, but he saved the biggest for a cause close to his heart.

“He grew up in an abusive environment, and his mom was involved in an abusive marriage and they didn’t have supports like what the YWCA Harbor House offers, and I think it was just a cause that touched his heart,” said Nancy.

He used the trek as an opportunity to promote the YWCA and its work to end domestic violence.

The climb had its ups and downs, one being the news a fellow climber he had met along the way never made it off the mountain.

“He had attempted four times to summit and not been successful, this was his fifth summit attempt, he actually ended up summitting and then died on the way down, so that was the man Trevor had met in camp,” said Nancy.

Stuart is currently in a base camp in China, making his way down Mount Everest. Nancy will be hopping a plane to meet the adventurer for a well deserved week in the Hawaiian sun.

The YWCA is planning to celebrate Stuarts accomplishment when he returns on June 11.