157 thousand viewers tuned in to TV3’s Midweek programme to watch adventurer and explorer Pat Falvey and Teena Gates, Head of News at Dublin’s 98FM discuss the forthcoming Hope Challenge 2010 when Pat leads a group of celebrities to Everest Base Camp, and maybe beyond. The program was hosted by Collette Fitzpatrick.

Teena joins Jenny Kavanagh who plays Cleo in Fair City, RTE TV Presenter Rob Ross, Extreme Artist Philip Graye, actor George McMahon and a support team, to battle it out against the elements and walk to the highest frontiers of the planet.

The added challenge of Island Peak beckons for some members of the team who make it beyond Base Camp and the ever present risk of altitude sickness  to tackle an ice-wall and a difficult ridge climb.

TV3 viewers were astounded to hear that perhaps the most unlikely member of the team, Teena, had lost 10 stone in the past year as part of a battle back to fitness and tough preparations for the challenge ahead. The radio journalist got a similar reaction when she returned to her desk at 98FM, with the top Dublin station inundated with phone calls and texts from listeners offering support and donations for the challenge.  The team head off on September 30^th and they are passionately appealing for support for their campaign to raise funds for the Hope Foundation and street children in Calcutta.  You can follow the team’s progress and make a donation on the Hope Foundation website www.hopechallenge2010.com

The TV3 programme link is here: http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=midweek

or view it here:

TV3 8-9-10 Pat Falvey & Teena Gates HOPE Foundation

Pat Falvey was key note speaker at the international congress of telecommunication purchasers of airtime worldwide  at the beautiful luxury 5 Star Castlemartyr hotel, spa and golf resort in Ireland.

Managers and representatives of 22  multi national companies  were in attendance from 33 countries. The theme of the meeting  was  "working together as a global team to develop shared solutions to solve the global problems presently facing this competitive industry to give better value for their consumers and customers and to create better opportunities for the partnerships  developed with Eircom  throughout the world.

Pat focused his entertaining, colourful, inspirational presentation on,

1: How to tackle major milestones in the present environment,:

2: The challenge of change in global international businesses.

3: The importance of developing the team in working together to benefit everyone.

4: That we can live locally but influence globally.

Pat used his  Operation Everest on leadership and change to present what was a very well received by the international audience.

Pat Falvey's Profile

www.patfalvey.com

Pat was Key note speaker at the Dell summit sales conference and awards presentations at the Killiney Fitzpatrick Castle hotel in Ireland this week in a pre summit dinner presentation.  Over 280 delegates from around the world gathered for a two day conference in the beautiful surrounding of this beautiful hotel and grounds.

Pat gave his 60 minute Operational Everest motivational presentation  enforcing the companies strategies of their conferences goals of taking the top through clear team focus and vision with people taking pride in achieving their objectives as one of the most progressive industry leaders.

More on Pat's corporate profile

Course:      Navigation & Rope Skills Weekend

Altitude:     832m / 2730f approx
Route:        Weather dependent
Date:          March 2nd - 3rd
Duration:     2 days - 18hrs
Grade:        Easy to Moderate
Price:         € 150pp - Residential option available

Fed up of walking on the beaten track? Want to explore off the trail? Try our Navigation and Rope Skills Course!!

Instructors at the Pat Falvey School of Mountaineering have developed a weekend course to provide you with the skills required to be confident and self-sufficient in navigating on the hills and mountains here in Ireland. Along with these skills, you will be introduced to certain Rope Techniques such as coiling, belaying, confidence roping, knots and abseiling.

Pat was a guest speaker at the Launch of the new discovery series of maps for Ireland brought out buy the Ordance Survey of Ireland.

Covering the whole island of Ireland, the series includes 92 individual maps and are specifically designed for tourist and leisure activities. Seventy-five are published by Osi and 17 by Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland.

Pat Falvey, gave a 60 minute inspirational talk pre lunch entitled ‘From Carrantuohill to Everest.’ He underlined how important accurate and high quality mapping is in ensuring safe navigation in wilderness areas. Pat spoke to a packed audience of groups and associations representing outdoor pursuits, including the Irish Mountain Rescue Association, the Irish Ramblers Club, the Walkers Association of Ireland, Scouting Ireland, Failte Ireland, and the National Parks & Wildlife Service as well as many corporate companies from the public and private sector.

Also speaking at the launch, Minister Hanafin said: “I am delighted that Ordnance Survey Ireland produces these superb maps – both for our tourists and for the general public. The Discovery Series reflects the rich natural heritage we have in Ireland. I would encourage everyone to use these maps to explore our unique and world renowned landscape.”

Ms Geraldine Ruane, Chief Executive of OSi said: “We wanted to ensure that our Discovery Series included every feature and detail that these organisations would need in our maps. Our commitment to quality and accuracy is regarded as a benchmark by all mapping agencies in the world. The Discovery Series is our most popular map series and we are always pleased with the fantastic feedback we receive from our customers. Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland tell us that the Discovery Series plays an important role in attracting tourists to visit Ireland”.

At the launch, OSi also showcased their extensive range of digital mapping technology which is provided to a wide range of Corporate, Government and SME customers. Details of OSi mapping technology can be seen on the OSi website www.osi.ie.

Moving Mountains - Carrauntoohil 3414 feet- With Teena Gates 98 fm Also listen to podcast Moving Mountains

Pushing over the top of the ridge I gasped in surprise "you kept this a secret" as the grey slatted rocks that I'd been climbing up like stairs fell away to a ridge that slipped over the edge of the world - with green and grey and golden waves rolling off into the clouds below to crash on rocks as old as the world itself.

Arriving at the Mountain Lodge of adventurer Pat Falvey, I wear my enthusiasm for the climb ahead like a badge, or a sheet of armour; as quaking in my climbing boots I wonder whether I can really make it to the top of Carrauntoohil, 3,500 feet and Ireland's highest mountain.  I dread the thought of slowing down the group going out.  Was walking in the Wicklow hills enough preparation, or will I be hopelessly outpaced, and mortified in front of strangers?  Listening carefully to the briefing, I spot the change of tone as the larger than life Pat switches gear from wise-cracks and fun, to sober comment, host turned leader, as he talks about the need to keep up when push comes to shove. There are only so many hours of daylight to climb a mountain. Another snatched, silent conversation with myself and what now seems like the lunacy of being here; I breathe deeply, commit myself, and we're off.

Walking past the memorials in the carpark at the foot of Carrauntoohil, I'm reminded that we're approaching a sleeping giant sweeping calmly up in front, glowing green and purple, serene in the sun but ready with a fickle flick to change the odds in a heartbeat.  Crossing the first of a number of bridges on the way up, our guides explain about flash floods that came off the mountain snatching the life from one young woman within sight of the very carpark we'd just left.  It's sobering, but we push ahead and despite being nervous, my spirits soar as my muscles warm and I break into a light sweat, learning more about the other climbers in the group, and feeling relief as I discover I'm not the only one here for the first time.  There is huge reassurance in that, company for the challenge ahead.   Approaching the first of 3 lakes, we stop to catch our breath, and catch up on more from the guides about the history and folklore of the hills around us.

Shortly afterwards we came to a halt at what, to me, seemed to be an impenetrable sheet of rock.   "3 points of contact - up" announced Pat, and he was up and climbing - no ropes, no carabinos, no clips, no dress-rehearsal... no way.  "Are you mad?" I scream silently, as I toy with the thought of running as fast as my walking boots will take me in the opposite direction.  Breathing deeply, another silent conversation with myself as I call on my personal mantra for tough times, 'one foot in front of another & breathe'.  I focus, find the foothold Pat points to and looking up, the rocks above begin to take on new images of hand-holds and potential grips.  Swinging up to my 'three-points of contact' I look again and see and find, and reach and stretch and find my feet.  Confidence growing I move again, switching weight, muscles engaging, responding, reacting.  My breath deepens and I find a rhythm; I'm 'scrambling' and a smile bursts across my face as I realise I'm loving it.

A couple of hours later, after climbing over rocks, picking through moss and heather, and the trudge of putting 'one foot in front of another' on tired legs, the seasons change again and bright sunshine gives way to biting icy rain and a piercing wind.  As the elements kick off, I rip out fleece and coat, and hat and gloves.  How quickly a warm body can turn to deathly chill on a mountain, a chilling nudge from the idle giant.   Measured breathing and a steady pace allows for conversation with my colleagues, it's nice; they're good people and we exchange tips about breathing and walking and I learn small, subtle things, that make sense on a mountain.

The mist closes in as we close on the summit. The light is creamy, silver and unusual.  With the dark rocks below my feet and hands, and the rain dripping from my nose and hair and stinging my eyes, I feel like I'm walking in a plastic bubble, that I can reach up and punch through to the daylight outside. Conscious again of the flow of my breath, of keeping a rhythm, of putting one foot in front of another.  Then a cross looms out of the mist and the wind whips my face, as I recognise the scene from photos poured over in recent days.  We've made it, I've made it.

Standing at the top, hugging, laughing sharing smiles and joy with other climbers coming over the edge, I'm humbled and proud, conflicted; torn between the contradiction of the power of the mountain beneath me, and the power of the body that brought me to stand on top of the highest peak in Ireland.  Without warning the mist clears, I'm bathed in sunlight and a sudden movement pulls my eye down off the peak to the rocks below.  Clouds are flying past at speed below me, and I wonder in amazement as I watch, feeling slightly dizzy, as if someone put the world on 'fast forward'.

The descent is tough, weight thrown down on my haunches, but knees and ankles bear up, and nothing can wipe the smile from my face.  Buzzing, hooked, knowing it's the start of new adventures and challenges.  Carrauntoohil has not seen the last of me, and I have not seen the last of it.  In the weeks ahead working in the gym, grappling with the final few minutes on the treadmill, or groaning over floor exercises and stretches, this Kerry mountain will be flashing through my mind, a reward and a promise and a lure to pull the extra mile from the rowing machine.  That peak, that feeling of reaching the summit has left Kerry and travels back to Dublin with me on my journey.  Today, I have moved mountains.

International company GSK David Pulman's Presidents forum, (Global Manufacturing And Supply. GSM) gathered his International team in Cork for a three day team meeting. It was an event showing once again that Ireland is a great destination for International conferences. Team members came from America, Canada, Brazil, India, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and France.

Pat Falvey addressed the Presidents forum at a before dinner presentation at the historical Aula Maxima dinning room at University College Cork.  Over 65 key personal from around the world flew into Cork for a three day conference which was held in the beautiful Hayfield Manor five star hotel.

Pats key note address was on Leadership, our ability to succeed in a changing world and how with a belief, a focus and desire that as a team we can all conquer our own mountains and achieve our Everest.

Suicide Aware Corrán Tuathail Challenge 30th May.

A damp, misty morning did not in any way dissuade the enthusiasm of 61 highly motivated walkers raising funding for Suicide Aware to climb Corran Tuathail 3,414 feet, Irelands highest Mountain with Pat Falvey and his guides under the leadership of Martin Harvey.

This is the second year of the challenge and is growing in numbers from year to year. Next year we may have to do two separate days if the numbers are to grow any further.

Funding from the event is being used to train counsellors in dealing with people and families who require in assistance of dealing with depression themselves or in seeking help in how best to deal with problems they may encounter with family and friends. Depression is now Irelands fastest growing illness’s.

For further information on Suicide Aware and how you can help or how they can help you, contact Pat Beahan 087 945 4202 or web www.suicideaware.ie

Also other services available to those seeking help.

Samaritans Confidential line 1850 60 90 90

Aware Helpline 1890 303 302

Bodywhys; support information 1890 200 444

Suicide Prevention Helpline 1800 742 745

General information On Pat Falvey Worldwide services.

For further information on walks, climbs, conferences, training and courses by Pat Falvey sign into newsletter on home page or follow our web site throughout the year or contact office +353 (0) 64 6644181

Stress to distress get out and challenge yourself and go walking.