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UK nurse successfully summits Mount Everest! 

Seven mountains, one nurse: raising money to support UK nurses and midwives

Rowena is a nurse and lecturer in nursing at the University of Derbyshire. She’s spent her career caring for others and helping to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Now, she’s setting her sights on an extraordinary personal challenge: climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and raising £15,000 to support the work of the RCN Foundation.  

Conquering Mount Everest 

As part of a team of four, along with four Sherpas, on 18 May at 9.45 am Rowena successfully summited Mount Everest – the highest mountain in the world. We are currently seeking confirmation that Rowena may also be the first female nurse in the world to achieve this extraordinary feat and secure a Guinness World Record for her achievement. 

"I'm exhausted and a little bit broken but I'm just so glad to be back at Base Camp and back to safety. I can't quite believe I've done it, it will take a few days to sink in."

Rowena has now successfully reached the summits of:  

  • Mount Everest (8,849m, Asia) in May 2025  
  • Aconcagua (6,961m, South America) in February 2025  
  • Mount Elbrus (5,642m, Europe) in August 2024  
  • Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m, Africa) in January 2024  

Rowena’s experiencing with climbing was limited before she began her mountaineering journey last January when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, something which she described as an “impulse decision”. She began her journey to Nepal in April where she spent weeks at Everest Base Camp, exploring and acclimatising to the high altitude.  

On why she’s taken on such a challenge, Rowena said: “For me, this challenge is about more than physical endurance - it’s a way to shine a light on the compassion and strength that nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants show every single day. We all rely on the unwavering care of these professionals. They are the backbone of our health system and are currently facing challenges like never before. Your support can help safeguard those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. Together, we can make a lasting impact - one summit at a time.”  

If you’d like to support Rowena’s challenge and cheer her on from afar, you can donate via her JustGiving page.  

Making a lasting impact - one summit at a time!  

As part of our 15 year anniversary, Rowena has joined our 15x15 Challenge and set a fundraising goal of £15,000. Every £1 you donate will directly support nursing and midwifery professional in the UK when they need it most.  

Donate today and help Rowena reach her goal.  

The rest of the world…  

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Rowena is just over halfway to completing her challenge, with three peaks remaining:  

  • Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m, Indonesia)  
  • Denali/Mount McKinley (6,190m, North America)  
  • Mount Vinson (4,892m, Antarctica)  

If that wasn’t enough, Rowena also plans to complete the Explorers Grand Slam which is the addition of skiing to each Pole!  

Be sure to follow us on social media (@RCN Foundation) to keep track of Rowena’s climbing journey.