Anyone interested in taking part in a Mount Kilimanjaro trek to raise funds for The Children’s Centre is invited to attend a launch event to find out more. The walk to the top of the top of the world’s highest free standing mountain will take place in September. The Island’s leading charity for families and children is hosting a meeting on February 21 at The Children’s Centre’s main offices on Woodbourne Road, Douglas, starting at 6pm. If you wish to attend please register in advance by emailing MarkEastham@thechildrenscentre.org.im, or calling 676076. It will be the second launch event following a similar presentation held at The British Hotel earlier this month.
Mark Eastham, Adventure Events Fundraising Co-ordinator at The Children’s Centre, said:
“We had a great response to the first launch evening and this second event is a last chance for anyone interested in the Kilimanjaro Challenge to meet organisers and some of those who went on the last trip we organised to Kilimanjaro in 2010. Spaces are filling up fast so I really do urge anyone who does want to take part in this trip of a lifetime to sign up as soon as possible.”
Mount Kilimanjaro stands 5,895metres above sea level in northern Tanzania near the border with Kenya and is the world’s highest free standing mountain. The route will follow the Lemosho Trail route which is one of lesser trodden paths to the summit, but one that was taken by celebrities who climbed the mountain in aid of Comic Relief in 2009. The 12 day trip starts on September 19 with a flight to Nairobi, Kenya, and a transfer to Arusha across the border into Tanzania the following day. The next day the walking begins with a trek through the rain forest from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubw (Big Tree) Campsite at an altitude of 2,800metres. There’s another 700metres of climbing the next day, and just 300metres the following day to allow the trekkers to acclimatise gradually to the thinner air. On day nine the trip culminates with The Children’s Centre adventurers making an early start for the final push to the summit from Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak - the highest point in Africa. After ascending just over 1,200metres in one day the reward for the effort will be worthwhile with the chance to watch a spectacular sunrise. The following day it’s time to say goodbye to the summit, but the group will take with them some fantastic memories as they descend the mountain and head back to Arusha and on to Nairobi for the flight home.
The Kilimanjaro trek has been completed by people of all ages and all backgrounds and The Children’s Centre will provide expert advice on how to prepare for the walk and how to raise funds. In previous years trekkers have used a range of ideas to raise funds including car boot sales and supermarket bag packing events. Some trekkers have even rented out their homes to TT Homestay visitors and used the income to cover the cost of the charity trek. The Kilimanjaro trek is being run in conjunction with specialist charity challenge organisers Global Adventure Challenges. For more details go to http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/events/looking-to-trek-kilimanjaro-in-2013/.
Photo - The Children’s Centre team at the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2010.
