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Edward is climbing Aconcagua for orphaned and vulnerable children!

“The mountains keep me humble. They make me appreciate the little things in life, which I often take for granted.” Edward Dijmarescu

Add photo 1 here – close up and small.

  1. Edward, tell us a little about yourself and your upcoming expedition to Aconcagua.

 

I was born and raised in Brad, Hunedoara County, Romania, and moved to the UK a couple of decades ago where I studied, worked, and eventually became a proud British citizen.

 

For much of my career, I’ve worked with organisations in the charity, healthcare, and education sectors. I currently work as Head of Property UK for OFG Education, an amazing organisation that provides education and support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), among other services.

 

Outside of work, I’ve developed a real passion for mountaineering and challenging myself. I’ve been fortunate enough to trek and climb in some incredible places, including Machu Picchu, Everest Base Camp (EBC), Kala Patthar, Kilimanjaro, and Mount Elbrus.

 

Now, I’m taking on my biggest challenge yet as a high-altitude mountaineer: Aconcagua in Argentina, which stands at an incredible 6,961 metres.

  1. What inspired you to embark on this challenge in support of FARA?

 

I’ve been a big supporter of FARA UK for many years. Having been born in Romania, the charity holds a particularly special place in my heart. I first raised money for FARA Romania when I climbed Mount Elbrus, and later Ben Nevis—which was a substitute for the Annapurna range due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to take on an even bigger challenge, and Aconcagua seemed like the perfect choice.

 

What makes Fara Charity different for me is that you can genuinely see the impact the charity makes. It isn’t just about raising money; it’s about helping children and young people who desperately need support and giving them better opportunities in life. Because of this transparency, I know the money raised will go exactly where it is needed most. That gives the whole expedition a much deeper purpose. The mountain is the challenge, but the children are the reason.

  1. Aconcagua is almost 7,000 metres high! How do you train for such an epic challenge?

 

Training for high-altitude mountains isn’t easy because you simply cannot recreate those extreme environments in the UK. To put it simply: I’m training for mountains by climbing mountains! I recently travelled to the Swiss Alps, the Dolomites, and Madeira, and I’ve completed several long, demanding hikes closer to home in the Lake District and the Peak District. In addition, I spend significant time in the gym working hard on my cardiovascular endurance. My wife is very supportive of expeditions, which means a lot to me, and also, she reaps the benefits of taking part in my training hikes (or not 😊).

 

Add photo 2 here – Swiss Apls, Switzerland

 

However, it’s not all about the physical training. At high altitudes, your mental strength becomes just as critical. You must be prepared for extreme weather, physical exhaustion, severe discomfort, and days when everything feels much harder than you ever expected. So yes, I will definitely be packing a strong mindset in my rucksack—I am sure it will come in handy!

 

  1. What motivates you to keep going when you are on the mountain?

 

I’m naturally self-motivated and maintain a resilient mindset, but fundraising gives me a completely different layer of purpose to keep pushing forward. When you’re freezing, exhausted, or struggling with the effects of altitude sickness, it helps immensely to remember exactly why you are there.

I have the privilege of choosing to be on that mountain. Many of the children supported by FARA didn’t get to choose the difficult circumstances they were born into. That reality puts things into perspective very quickly.

 

To match the scale of the climb, I’ve turned this into a highly ambitious campaign that combines the physical ascent and fundraising into a single, unified goal. That is why I created Team 6,961 under the slogan: One Step, One Metre, One Pound, One Life Changed! My goal is to raise £1 for every metre climbed—meaning £6,961 for the 6,961-metre peak of Aconcagua.

 

  1. What has been the biggest challenge preparing for Aconcagua?

 

The primary challenge has been balancing the time required for preparation while sourcing all the specialised equipment.

 

I’m incredibly fortunate that my employer, OFG Education has been certified as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition is no surprise, given that the company pioneered and permanently adopted a four-day working week (4DWW) to help staff maintain a perfect work-life balance. I think this initiative is fantastic, and I often use that extra day to get out into the mountains, train, and focus on serious expedition prep.

 

Even so, there is a massive amount of preparation that happens behind the scenes that people don’t necessarily see. Sourcing the gear, booking flights, arranging specialist insurance, handling logistics, managing medical preparation, and mapping out the details is a monumental task in itself.

 

High-altitude equipment, for instance, is exceptionally expensive, but it’s not an area where you can afford to cut corners. At almost 7,000 metres, having the right gear can make a massive difference to both your personal safety and the overall success of the expedition. I have been shopping around for months to secure all the necessary gear at the best possible prices.

  1. What support is required for such an expedition and how are you fundraising?

 

An expedition of this scale requires two distinct tracks: preparing for the physical rigours of the climb and building a robust fundraising campaign around it. I am incredibly grateful to my corporate partners who have opened up their hearts to join me in this extraordinary adventure to support children in need.

 

Add photo 3 here – the summit partners.

 

Summit Partners (ensure you include clickable hyperlinks as recognition for the sponsors – summit and base partners):

 

 

Base Camp Partners:

 

 

By bringing these fantastic organisations, supporters, and their wider networks together, I hope we can maximize the funds and awareness raised for FARA.

 

I have also received phenomenal support from my family, friends, work colleagues, and neighbours. Seeing everyone get involved is amazing; their encouragement has built a true sense of community around the project. Their backing not only makes the logistics of this trip possible but also allows me to amplify FARA’s vital message to a much broader audience. Ultimately, it’s a team effort. I may be the physical representative climbing the mountain, but with this incredible support network behind me, I certainly won’t be doing it alone.

  1. How have your family, colleagues, and friends reacted to this latest challenge?

 

There has been a fairly predictable mixture of reactions! I’ve heard everything from “That’s amazing!” to “Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea?” along with the occasional “You are completely crazy!”

Naturally, there is genuine concern because Aconcagua is a serious, unforgiving peak. But despite the nerves, everyone has been fiercely supportive, and their encouragement means the world to me.

I feel incredibly lucky that this expedition has organically created a community of its own. My corporate sponsors, colleagues, friends, family, and FARA supporters are all sharing in this journey. They know how deeply the mountains are rooted in who I am, and they understand that this challenge is about something far greater than just reaching the summit.

 

  1. What excites you most about Aconcagua and how is this different from your previous expeditions?

 

Every mountain is entirely unique, and each possesses its own distinct personality:

 

Add photo 4 here – Kala Patthar 5,545m, Himalayas.

 

  • Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar served as my introduction to the immense scale of the Himalayas, allowing me to tackle high altitudes for the very first time.
  • Kilimanjaro showed me what it truly takes to push my physical boundaries toward a major summit under extreme environmental conditions.
  • Mount Elbrus was a massive step up, introducing me to more technical mountaineering, and marked my very first charity challenge for FARA.

 

Aconcagua will be my highest peak to date. Standing at nearly 7,000 metres, it brings an entirely new tier of difficulty. It is notorious for extreme and volatile weather conditions, where temperatures can plummet well below -40°C and wind gusts can easily exceed 100 km/h. Navigating that sheer altitude and those brutal environments will demand a complete step up in my physical pacing and mental endurance. I am glad to be climbing with Adventure Peaks , a reputable British expedition company that already helped me safely summit Mount Elbrus.

 

Overall, I love travelling to places I’ve never been, immersing myself in completely foreign environments, different cultures and stepping far outside my comfort zone. But what excites me most about this specific trip is the ability to directly tie a monumental personal challenge to a cause that genuinely transforms the lives of others.

 

Hopefully, I’ll come back with an amazing story to share what happens ‘beyond the summit’. I plan to document the entire experience—the highs and lows of the journey, the extreme conditions, and the spirit of team every step of the way!