I’m Chris Bilby and having recently entered my 65th year I decided to set myself a small challenge, in February 2027 I intend to travel to Tanzania and climb Mount Kilimanjaro … all 5,895m of it, hence the target amount!

The Trip will be self-funded but as I have always raised money for charity when doing these events all money donated will go to my longstanding charity of choice, the UK’s Fire Fighters Charity

I have decided to take the Northern Circuit which is Kilimanjaro's longest, most remote, and most rewarding trail on the mountain and circles most of the mountain and takes 9 days.

The Fire Fighters Charity was born out of the devastating loss of 1,027 firefighters in the Second World War. For nearly 85 years, the charity has specialised in healthcare and wellbeing support for the fire services community.

Serving in fire and rescue can take its toll – on the body, the mind and on family life. The charity is there for people in all fire and rescue roles, during and after service, giving the care and support they deserve to front line staff but also to the families that support them through their careers.

It is independent of any organisation and our funding is predominantly voluntary, fuelled by the generosity of our supporters and provides Clinical care. Personal wellbeing and Practical support, and is provided confidentially, free of charge and without judgement!

Funds raised help to fund three residential centres in Devon, West Sussex and Cumbria, supported by an integrated digital service. Our registered psychological therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, exercise therapists and wellness coaches provide clinically expert care grounded in a deep understanding of service in the fire and rescue sector.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.