In February 2013, four climbers from the Vela Group will be scaling one pretty big mountain!

Alongside our charity of the year - Daisy Chain - Mike, Dave, Johnny and Paul will attempt to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. As part of the peak challenge, they will climb all 5,895 metres to the top and back down again.

The money raised will go towards the Group’s annual target of £20,000 for Daisy Chain, which we hope to achieve in the New Year.

The team is made up of:
Mike Clark - Chair of Vela Group
Dave Pickard - Group Director of Operations
Johnny Lighten - Board Director
Paul Cornforth - Customer Service Centre

So please dig deep and support our team on their biggest challenge to date.

Did you know?

The Vela group includes Tristar Homes and Housing Hartlepool.

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes ever to break through the Earth's crust standing at 19,341ft – it is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Almost every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and an arctic summit.

Over 25,000 people attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately two-thirds are successful. Altitude-related problems is the most common reason climbers turn back.

Mike Clark doesn’t really wear socks with his sandals (see picture).