Adventurer, mother, record holder, paraglider and mountaineer, Squash Falconer encouraged pupils to ‘embrace your potential’ during her visit to the Prep and Senior School on November 6.
The morning began at the Prep School, where Squash regaled fascinating stories of her incredible adventures to our Year 3 – 8 pupils and inspired them to forge their own pathways of adventure before hosting a brilliant Q&A session with our curious and captivated pupils.
At the Senior School, our Prefects and Scholars were invited to an afternoon workshop hosted by Squash, focused on self-belief, determination and leadership, before opening up the floor for an engaging debate on the definition of success.
Squash’s drive for adventure started at a young age, growing up on a farm surrounded by motorbikes and quadbikes. In her late teens during a ski season gap year, and while working at a Bed and Breakfast, the owner offered to teach Squash to paraglide in lieu of payment. It was here when she saw Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, across the horizon.
This resonated with her upon her return to the UK and she decided to start participating in endurance adventure holidays, during which, one of her friends on the team suggested climbing a mountain.
In 2009, she became first British woman to climb and paraglide from the summit of Mont Blanc at 4,810m. Since then, Squash has reached the summit of 14 mountains, including Everest (2011), Kilimanjaro (2012 and 2013) and Khang Karpo (2016), and has collectively raised more than half a million pound for charities.
“During Mont Blanc, someone mentioned that I’d be strong enough to climb Mont Everest”, Squash recalls. “I’d never considered this, but this planted a seed in my mind, and it was a wonderful feeling that someone else had seen potential in me. Your parents, teachers and friends will see potential in you – even if you don’t believe it yourself – and a feeling like that stays with you, so embrace it. Others see potential before we do, and even if we have doubts, we only need that one cheerleader.
“Even if you don’t see potential in yourself, you’ve got to at least try, because you never know what you might achieve. You can all do anything, but not everything at the same time, so be brave, believe in yourself, and remember you are stronger than you can imagine. I had a dream and yes, many people said I was mad, but I hope today has shown you that you can achieve your dreams when you put your mind to it.”
Squash’s incredible achievements:
- 2004, Aconcagua, 6962m – Summited.
- 2008, Cho Oyu, 8,201m – Summited and became the world’s highest bum-boarder.
- 2009, Mt Blanc, 4,810m – Summited and became the first British woman to paraglide from the top.
- 2009, Mt Rainier, 4,392m – Summited.
- 2009, Loubuche East, 6,145m – Summited.
- 2009, Mustagata, 7546m – Reached 7,400m but was forced to turn back due to bad weather, but she was the first British woman to snow board on the mountain and raised £13,000 for charity.
- 2011, cycled Lands’ End to John O Groats in nine days, 1024 miles.
- 2011, Mt Everest 8,850m – Summited.
- 2012, Gran Paradiso, 4,061m – Summited.
- 2012 and 2013, Mt Kilimanjaro 5,895m – Summited. During the 2013 climb, Squash was as a member of the largest ever group (94 people) to reach the summit, the team collectively raised over £650,000 for charities on the ground in Tanzania.
- 2013, completed a 3,074mile journey around Western Europe on an ElliptiGO to gain the world record for the longest distance travelled on Elliptical bicycle.
- 2013, Monte Rosa, three summits reached – Zumstein (4,563m), Capanna Regina, Margherita Hut (4,554m), Balmenhorn (4,167m).
- Women’s ElliptiGO European Champion three consecutive years; 2013, 2014 and 2015.
- 2014, Sassiere, France 3751m – Summited.
- 2014, Vespignani Patagonia, 2,200m – Summited.
- 2016, Khang Karpo, Napal, 6,646m – Summited.
You can listen to Squash Falconer talk more about her adventures in our latest episode of the Framlingham College ‘In Conversation’ Podcast.
