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ARC TO TAKE PART IN CITY'S KILIMANJARO CHALLENGE

26/11/2009

Press release issued by Sunderland Partnership.

PARTNERS WHO WORK TOGETHER IN THE CITY are launching their attempt to climb Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at just under 20,000 ft.

The Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr. Dennis Richardson, will officially launch the challenge at Herrington Country Park on Wednesday 18th November at 10.30am.

The group of twenty will start their 7 day climb on 16th April 2010 and plan to raise money for a range of charities such as Grace House Hospice, The Fire Fighters charity, Help for Heroes, the Mayors charities, Scope and Diabetes UK, as well as the African Black Conservation Project (ABPC) in Tanzania.

Canon Stephen Taylor, Chair of the Sunderland Partnership who is leading the charity trek said: “The challenge represents an active expression of the Sunderland Partnership at work, strengthening the links and networks between organisations that make up Sunderland. It is a huge honour for those individuals taking part and will represent a major effort in terms of fundraising and support for the teams they work in and the organisations they represent.

“By committing to this challenge we aim to raise as much money as possible for our chosen charities both here and in Tanzania.”

The Tanzanian Defence Attaché, Colonel Pelgreen Mrope, attended the city’s Remembrance Day Service and also met with partners to discuss how they could forge international links with Tanzania. Due to the extent of deforestation in Tanzania the ice cap on Mount Kilimanjaro is melting - by raising funds for the ABC project partners will be helping to reverse this process and their carbon footprint.

Those taking part are from the agencies that make up the Sunderland Partnership including City Hospitals NHS Trust, Primary Care Trust, City of Sunderland College, Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue, Northumbria Police, Sunderland City Council, Gentoo, Sunderland arc and the Sunderland Community Network. Representatives from two of the city’s private sector organisations, Grundfos and Liebherr, have also committed to the challenge.

The Mayor, Cllr. Dennis Richardson said: “I’m delighted to launch the Kilimanjaro Challenge on behalf of the Sunderland Partnership and particularly pleased that Scope and Diabetes UK are two of the many charities that will benefit. I wish the team every success in reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.”

The team aim to raise £30k collectively for their chosen charities and will be organising a number of fund raising events and activities. These will include things such as treasure hunts and supermarket bag packing and team members will be providing updates on their efforts and ways in which people can help over the coming months.

Local outdoor wear manufacturer Berghaus have provided support to the team giving a training talk and base layer clothing in preparation for the challenge as well as offering discounted kit. Another local company, Sports Performance, have offered advice on nutrition and personal training and Seaham Hall offered every participant the opportunity of a personal fitness assessment.

Only 40 percent of climbers who attempt Kilimanjaro ever reach the summit, the main reason people fail is due to altitude sickness. The trek will be led by local guides who are fully trained in high altitude medical care and the team are ensuring they are both properly equipped and physically capable of undertaking the climb.
 

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