Peter and Michelle plan to walk to the peak of the highest mountain in Africa, standing at 19,330ft it is more than four times higher than Ben Nevis the highest mountain in the British Isles.
The project was initiated in June 2010 at the top of Carrauntoohill when a EPS Environmental work group walked the highest mountain in Ireland in aid of Water Aid and local MS charities raising £11,600 on the way. Unknown to my fellow travelers I was due for surgery four weeks later, having being diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the top of Carrauntoohill I promised myself to do the Kilimanjaro Challenge if the procedures were successful, that was two years ago and we are booked to do the walk from 20th to the 30th September.
The aims of the walk is to:
1. highlight the importance of health matters and in particular men's health and the importance of identifying Prostate Cancer a early stage as I had, a very treatable form of Cancer but a Killer if undetected. A cancer commonly in older men, however in my case I had not reached the age of 50 when detected and treated for that reason I am in a position to take on this challenge.
2. A opportunity to fund raise for charity. Funds raised will be in support of Charis a integrated Cancer Care Center. Charis provides support to men and women affected by cancer at every stage of their journey from diagnosis to one year post-treatment, also assist and support the families and supporters of those living with cancer.
3. This provides the motivation and opportunity to improve my general health and regain fitness levels.
In preparing for the challenge we will be undertaking a series of hill and mountain walks for details of planned walks see events, our training program commenced on a 4K walk around Lough Fee in full view of the Charis Center ending at the summit of Kilimanjaro. (4K2Kilimanjaro)
Please contribute to Charis via our Just Giving link.
