FRIENDS of the late mountaineer Ger McDonnell will this weekend take part in an event to raise money for a scholarship fund set up in his memory, as the first anniversary of his death approaches.

The Co Limerick man came to attention on August 1st last when he became the first Irish person to summit K2 in the Himalayas. He died after being hit by an ice avalanche on his descent, after spending six hours trying to rescue three Korean climbers. Eleven climbers died in one of the worst tragedies in K2’s history.

Ger’s family, in association with the the Mountain Fund charity, have set up a fund to provide support to the children of four Sherpa guides who died in the tragedy.

Now former DCU classmates have come together to honour the mountaineer. They aim to raise €50,000 to fund a scholarship in Ger’s name for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to study engineering at DCU. As part of their efforts, seven former classmates and McDonnell’s brother JJ will re-enact a journey Ger made when he cycled 112km to post a letter and afterwards had a pint and sandwich in Doolin, Co Clare.

The trek takes place tomorrow from O’Donnell’s home village of Kilcornan, Co Limerick to Doolin via ferry from Tarbet. Collections will be taken en route. For online donations visit www.dcu.ie/trust/.