‘I’ll have to deal with altitude on Kilimanjaro’

Mar 12 2008 by Hudd Student1, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A LOCAL adventurer is in training to take part in the Kilimanjaro Hiking Challenge.

The demanding trek will take Simon Jones, 39, of Brighouse, to the summit of the world’s highest free standing mountain, situated in Tanzania, Africa.

And he’s doing it all to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The eight-day adventure will begin with Simon climbing through tropical rainforest and enduring temperatures exceeding 30 degrees along with high humidity.

And as they keep getting higher up the 5,896-metre inactive volcano, the climbers will have to battle against altitude sickness.

As the thirty-strong team ascend to the summit, they will be met with dramatic scenery of ice cliffs and glaciers, braving temperatures of minus 25 degrees.

Simon said: “This will be one of the most challenging things I have ever done.

“There will be lots of steep climbs and hard treks and I’ll have to contend with the effects of being at high altitude.

“But I will be spurred on through every step knowing that the money I raise will help people who are facing the far greater challenge of living with cancer.”

The climbers will have to sleep in rough camps and eat basic high-fat, high-energy rations of rice, popcorn and peanuts.

Although they will have porters carrying some of their gear, the climbers will also have to carry heavy backpacks.

The trek takes place in January next year, but Simon is already in training for this enormous challenge.

He said: “I’m running around 20 miles a week at the moment and am taking part in two 10km runs, as well as the Great North Run.

“I tried climbing Ben Nevis a few weeks ago, but had to turn back two thirds of the way up because of a blizzard.

“But there’s nothing you can do about altitude sickness. Even the fittest people can get it and it’s the main reason why people don’t manage to complete the climb.”

Throughout the summer, he’ll get in lots of walking in The Lake District and later in the year will begin the 16 week intensive training programme provided by Macmillan.

Local businesses Leach Colour in Bradley, Waterhouse Photography in Hipperholme, and Tenmen Design in Halifax are backing Simon’s charity trek by becoming his main sponsors.

Simon said: “I want to raise in excess of £5,000, even if it means standing outside the supermarket with a collection bucket.

“This amount will really make a difference to helping cancer patients and their families.”

To sponsor Simon visit www.justgiving.com/simonclimbskilimanjaro, or phone 07870 349829.