In October this year 8 Nottingham adventurers will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in less than five days. The team that includes a professional singer, a solicitor and an IT specialist will be travelling to Tanzania to raise £100,000 for The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity.

As with all the best plans the foundations for the climb were laid whilst having a drink in the pub. Simon Atkin who runs a successful financial advisor company in Mapperley explains.

“One of our friends, Jasper Spencer was telling us about his forthcoming trip to Africa in which he plans to travel the entire length of the continent with his girlfriend, Vili Chung for a year. He mentioned that he was going to be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and before the evening was out a few of us had decided to join him!”

Somewhat surprisingly the cold light of day did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the drinking buddies and within a week five more people had signed up.

“We’ve all got our reasons for going,” continues Simon, “a few of us have just reached benchmark birthdays and we’re all passionate about raising some money for a very good cause.”

At 5,891 metres Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and although considered to be a relatively straight forward ascent it is a peak that must be treated with respect. The altitude and the cold make it a particularly difficult and dangerous trek. Every year, people die whilst making the trip.

As a professional singer Andy Campbell-Bass, age 46, is more likely to be found crooning on stage than climbing in . He’s been described as having one on of the best voices in the Midlands and is looking forward to achieving a potential first on the expedition. “I’m hoping I’ll have enough breath to sing “The hills are Alive” at the summit. I bet that’s never been done before.”

The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity’s primary goal is to change the attitudes and perceptions of the UK population to combat the widespread ignorance of the dangers of exposure to the sun and sunbeds. 80 % of skin cancers are caused by over exposure to UV making it a largely preventable disease.

Steve Brown, age 49 runs a thriving internet business in Nottingham and is confident that they’ll raise in excess of £100,000 for SKCIN. “It’s a momentous task changing people’s attitude about their exposure to the sun. In fact, it’s another huge mountain to climb. However, armed with our commitment and steely determination I know that we can achieve it.”

For more information visit www.skcin.org