Bolton Hospice provides incredible support - caring for people across across our town both in their own homes and providing in-patient care.

Sadly, the Hospice faces considerable cost pressures arising from the cost-of-living crisis.

That's why I'm doing my bit to raise money - so that the Hospice can continue to provide excellent care for people across our communities.

I am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain – next month. At 5,895m high, Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world. On a good day, due to its close proximity to the equator you can see the mountain’s summit from more than 100 miles away as it looms high over the neighbouring national park. A dormant stratovolcano, it’s been host to the world’s highest ever cricket match!

I’ll be climbing the mountain on the Lemosho route – so seven days on the mountain, camping at altitude from the first day all the way back down to the start. Climbers pass through five different climatic zones on the way to the top – starting in the bushland, then gaining altitude up through the rainforest, moorland, the alpine desert and then on to the arctic zone above 5,000m.

You may know that I’m quite into my outdoor pursuits – white water kayaking, mountaineering in particular – and climbing Kilimanjaro has been a long desire of mine since I first visited east Africa more than 15 years ago. So I’m raring to go, getting practice on the stair master machine in the gym and heading out for a few long days in the hills before I head off to Tanzania the second week of October.

For more information about the vital work Bolton Hospice does, visit the website: https://www.boltonhospice.org.uk/about-us

Any contribution you can make - large or small - would be gratefully received.

And if you want to find out a bit more about the challenge ahead, take a peek here: https://teamkilimanjaro.com/

Thank you,

Phil