Mother of murdered Lincoln graduate, Grace Millane, climbs Mount Everest in her memory

The mother of Grace Millane, a University of Lincoln graduate who was murdered while travelling during her gap year, has climbed to the base camp of Mount Everest in her memory.

Grace was killed in New Zealand by her Tinder date on 2nd December 2018, the night before her 22nd birthday.

Gillian Millane OBE, 63, reached base camp after eight days of hiking. She said the 17,598ft climb was “hard work” but she was prepared to “stand on top of the world and shout” about violence against women and girls.

Gillian, from Wickford in Essex, also paid tribute to her husband, David, whom she lost to cancer in 2020.

via SWNS

She said: “It was the hardest thing I have ever done, as it was so emotional.  

“I know Grace and David were with me and I left stones with their names on at base camp. 

“We need to encourage others to call out behaviour that is unacceptable so it doesn’t become the norm.  

“If I have to stand on top of the world and shout it then I will.”

Gillian’s climb began on 21st September amid the worst weather conditions in 12 years. She hiked in support of the White Ribbon charity, an organisation focused on tackling violence against women and girls through engagement with men and boys.

She explained: “It was hard work, but I had a wonderful experience, and so glad I got to see the top of the world.

“It was the worst weather in 12 years, there was so much rain and then snow which was up to my knees.  

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“We were all freezing and wet through our skin, the altitude was very hard to deal with.  

Gillian also added that the group had to sleep in rooms with no heating and that there were several landslides which “washed the path away.”

via SWNS

Mount Everest is now home to the two rocks, bearing Grace and David’s names and Gillian said she was “immensely” proud of her team and their achievement.

As well as her work with the White Ribbon charity, Gillian honours Grace through her own charity initiative, Love Grace. The organisation helps victims of domestic abuse by donating pre-loved handbags filled with toiletries, an operation inspired by Grace’s love of handbags.

The organisation has now given out over 20,000 handbags in Grace’s name.

Gillian said: “I have to keep raising awareness of male violence against women and girls, and fundraising to contribute to education, as no one else should experience what my family and I have.  

“We have to turn our negative into a positive and get people to speak up and ask for help. 

“We as a family cannot thank everyone enough for their kindness and support.

Authorities searched for Grace for eight days after she did not reply to her family’s birthday wishes on 2nd December 2018.

Her killer, Jesse Kempson, had hidden her body in the West Auckland bushland. Kempson, then 26, claimed he strangled Grace during sex at a hotel after their Tinder date. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years. 

Featured image credit: SWNS

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