A lifelong Mountaineer and heart attack victim is looking to conquer the world’s biggest peak.

On Saturday, Edmonton Native Leo Namen brought his Everest 2020 Clinic to Fort McMurray, to share the story of his quest to raise $500,000 in donations for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

As a father and husband, he says he is looking to shine a light on the lack of understanding of heart disease in women.

“There are four in my house,” Namen said. “That was enough to think that I could do something about it. I wanted to do all this for survivors but specifically for women.”

Leo Namen in hospital following his heart attack in April 2018. Photo courtesy: Leo Namen

Namen, who suffered a heart attack in April 2018 says his love of climbing stems from living around the South American Andes as a child.

After his heart attack, he says he was worried he’d never be able to climb again.

“That’s when I basically lost my identity. Am I going to be able to climb again? Am I able to be a father, husband, or grandfather again? So, it turned out to be a situation where I lost my identity.”

Namen says it’s their goal to begin the expedition in April 2020 but that will take support and as many donations as possible.

You can find more on Namen’s journey on his website.

Additionally, you can click here to donate to the cause.