Friends scale new heights for charity (From York Press)
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Friends to scale Mount Kilimanjaro for cancer charity
8:56am Monday 9th April 2012 in Fundraising fun
Friends Josh Davis, Lee Maddison, Dave Firth and Nick Keating get ready for their charity climb. Not pictured Mark McKay
A YORK climber and four friends are facing a very tall order – after they pledged to scale Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.
Childhood friends Dave Firth and Nick Keating, both 30, are planning to scale the Tanzanian peak, which reaches almost 6000m above sea level, in September 2014.
They will be joined by friends Mark McKay, Lee Maddison and John Davis, who got involved after they saw the pair discussing their plan on Facebook.
They hope to raise £40,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The climb is the brainchild of plumbing designer Dave, of Clifton, who decided to take on the challenge to fulfil a lifelong ambition.
He said: “I’ve got a bit of a bucket list, and one of them is climb a massive mountain. It was a bit of a pipe dream, but we just thought why not, let’s do it.”
The five will pay their own travel costs so every penny raised will go to Macmillan, which provides free nursing care to cancer patients.
“My stepdad’s father died of stomach cancer 17 years ago, and they helped a lot then,” Dave said.
“A lot of people I know have been affected by cancer – people at college, friends at work, personal friends. Everyone knows someone who has been affected, and Macmillan’s name always pops up as being really good.
“Between five of us we think we can do it, although it will still be a challenge.”
One of their biggest challenges will be getting in shape for the climb, which is viewed as among the world’s most challenging.
The longest walk Dave and Nick have tackled so far is Scafell Pike in Cumbria – England’s highest mountain at 978m.
Dave said: “I was convinced it was about 30 miles, but it turned out to be about eight – we definitely need to get into shape.
“I enjoy walking, but I enjoy drinking beer and eating pies as well.”
The group hope to reach their target by holding charity events and getting sponsorship, and plan to make a video diary of their adventures.
To sponsor the climbers, visit justgiving.com/davidfirth2014
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