'SUMMITS FOR ED' TRIBUTE TOUR KNOCKED OFF!

The Summits for Ed tribute tour which resumed at Warkworth on May 27, finished on May 29 at 11.30am at Cape Reinga, 55 years ago to the minute when Hillary and Tenzing made the summit of Mount Everest.

The tribute tour was organised by the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre was stopped on April 16 following the tragic death of six Elim Christian College students and their teacher in the Mangatepopo Gorge at Tongariro.

"We asked ourselves what Sir Ed would have done and decided to put the tribute tour on hold and deal with the difficult circumstances surrounding the tragedy," OPC Hillary Centres Chairman Grant McKenzie said.

"Sir Ed would never have walked past a fallen comrade and we felt the Elim school, the families and our own staff at Tongariro needed our full attention at that time," he said. "It is now time to complete the tribute tour and also remember the seven lives that were lost on April 15."

Mr McKenzie said people were invited to participate in the short memorial and one minute's silence on each summit.

Instead of flowers people are contributing stones or pebbles from their favourite place such as a stream, beach or a garden. These are being gathered up by members of Lions Clubs who are assisting the tour, and along with stones from students and schools they will form part of the memorial cairn for Sir Ed at the OPC Hillary Centre at Tongariro near Mt Ruapehu.

Families, businesses or organisations wanting their names permanently recorded can make a $150 donation for an engraved rock. Rocks donated by schools will be placed at the memorial at no charge.

Money raised will go to the Hillary Foundation to fund at risk teenagers or enable financially disadvantaged young people to attend an OPC Hillary Centre course.

Sixteen-year-old Ed Hillary had a life changing experience while on a school visit to Mt Ruapehu that began his love of the outdoors and mountain climbing and led to his extraordinary life of exploration and community service.

Between 8000 and 10,000 people will have climbed 39 local summits from Bluff to the Cape when the tribute tour was completed on May 29.

Sir Edmund Hillary - Summits for Ed

The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation and Outdoor Pursuits Centre are co-ordinating a nationwide final tribute to Sir Ed – a chance for all New Zealanders to create a lasting memorial as an inspiration for the youth of our nation.

The Summits for Ed tribute tour starts on Tuesday March 25 (the day after the Easter break) at Southland's famous Bluff, visits more than 30 towns and cities around the country and concludes at Cape Reinga on Saturday April 19 with an event attended by Lady Hillary and members of the Hillary family.

Everyone is invited to join their local summit climb. They are also invited to make a donation to assist the Hillary Foundation to continue promoting Sir Ed's ideals for youth in New Zealand.

A permanent stone memorial at Tongariro is planned.

"I am right behind the Summits for Ed initiative. Ed has always been very impressed with the work of the Outdoor Pursuits Centre. He would have been very keen to see this event take place, with young and old getting out and enjoying climbing a summit in their local area. I hope everyone will get involved."
Lady Hillary