Two local residents will be tackling the world's highest freestanding mountain this summer to raise money for charity.
Nick Bazley, a familiar face from Stay Bar and Restaurant, will be setting off on 16th July in a bid to climb Kilimanjaro in four and a half days.
He is aiming to raise £2440 for Childreach International, a charity that works in seven different developing countries and aims to get more children into school and out of poverty. They improve children's education, healthcare, protection and child rights.
He will be climbing the mountain with his girlfriend Holly Drinkwater and a group of 40 people. The trip is organised by Childreach International through the University of Leicester.
In addition to climbing 19,298 ft, Nick will be visiting the town of Moshi, which is the place where the money he raises will go. Whilst there he will be helping out with the projects that are already underway, such as building schools and teaching the children.
Nick, 22, said "I decided to undertake this challenge as I have just graduated from university and thought that this was a brilliant cause to back so when the chance came I didn't think twice about accepting.
"Also the fact that you see where the money you raise goes first hand was another significant factor for me in deciding to undertake the fundraising. I have never done anything like this before and wanted to challenge myself not only on the climb but through raising the £2440!
"I am currently in training and regularly go on runs, I also play a lot of football and tennis which keeps me fit. I also plan on climbing Snowdon before the climb for some practice."
Later in the summer, Adele Oldfield, 28, from Alderley Edge is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.
She decided to climb the highest mountain in Africa after her nan died from cancer and Alzheimer's last year. She will begin her trek on 25th August and is hoping to scale the mountain in 10 days.
Adele said "Having seen how dementia affects not only the person suffering with it, but the family and carers who help, really inspired and motivated me to do something worthwhile for this cause. So I decided to do something out of my comfort zone, something I have never done before and take part in the Mount Kilimanjaro Trek to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society.
"I have to admit the nearer it gets, and the more stories I read regarding the altitude sickness, the more apprehensive I get but I also know it will be an amazing experience and a challenge. Hopefully I will also meet some nice inspirational people. I am doing the trek through Action Challenge so I will be in a group of around 10 to 15 people who I will meet when I get there."
Adele started her training last month so she can be found in the gym most days.
Adele said "As this is physically and mentally challenging I have started to do strength training, anaerobic training and flexibility training as well as hiking to build up my general level of fitness. I do spin, zumba, horse riding, running and body pump at the gym and I have started hiking in the Lake District as I will be walking a minimum of 6 hours a day and 15 hours on the last day. To help with my training I have also signed up to run the 10K Bupa Great Manchester Run in May with the Marie Curie daffodil team."
Adele is hoping to raise £2300 for the Alzheimer's Society and she is putting £1000 towards the expense of the Mount Kilimanjaro Trek so that the sponsor money she receives can go to the Alzheimer's Society.
Both climbers have already started raising money. So far Nick has raised £1369 through a variety of means. Along with 3 fellow climbers, he organised a cider festival which raised a total of £580, and he will also be holding a fundraising night at Handforth Hall Tennis Club on April 9th which will include a quiz, bingo, a beetle drive and a raffle.
Nick said "Robinsons brewery have donated some beers for this charity night which were greatly appreciated and I have received a lot of support from Heddy Ghazizadeh, the owner of Stay, and restaurant customers."
In October Adele raised £250 by sky diving and she is planning to do some car boot sales and cake sales over the coming months.
You can check Nick's progress and sponsor him by visiting his fundraising page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickBazley.
You can sponsor Adele and support this worthwhile cause by visiting her justgiving.com page.
Photo: Nick Bazley with his girlfriend Holly Drinkwater who will join him on the climb.
