HIV is still a major problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa and results in so many orphans that their extended families are sometimes unable to cope. Bishop Matthew Mhagama of South West Tanganyika in Tanzania is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with local supporters over 5 days in September to raise funds to build a facility for HIV orphans in Sayuni, where my photo of school children above was taken on a visit to his diocese.

Deforestation on Kilimanjaro, see my photo from the air in 2010, is however a cause of local climate change and environmental damage. So he is also raising funds to plant trees on this iconic African mountain, with the help of sponsors within his diocese. The photo of Bishop Matthew at the foot of this page shows him in N Wales on one of his rare visits to the UK.

We aim to mirror his challenge without the expense and environmental cost of taking a team to Tanzania, by climbing Snowdon 5 times by 5 different routes over the same 5 days as Bishop Matthew, about the same distance as one ascent of Kilimanjaro. All the funds raised will go directly to his cause.

Adrian Murray from Bala will lead five Snowdon climbs, do check out his Justgiving page on the Snowdon Five Challenge. Members of Bala Rotary Club and the SW Tanganyika Association, including Mike Harrison and myself will also climb. Others will provide logistical support. My personal goal is to climb at least once before my 72nd birthday on September 12th! My personal fundraising will be additional to the target of £1500 set by Adrian Murray.