Help for charity mountain

They themselves often face poverty and hardship, yet happily welcome those climbing to raise sponsorship for charities elsewhere. Earlier this year, for instance, Bexhill law tutor Geoff Smith, of Squirrel Close, climbed Kilimanjaro to raise money for Sussex Air Ambulance.

The Kilimanjaro Care Foundation now exists to give something back to the Tanzanians. Driving force behind it is Geri Carden, who has particular reason to be grateful to Kilimanjaro’s porters.

When climbing there earlier this year, she suffered a cerebral oedema, or swelling to the brain, and together with a friend who suffered a pulmonary oedema on the same climb, only survived thanks to the care and skill of the porters and local doctors.

Geri said: “Had it not been for the help we received we would probably not be here to tell the tale. We now aim to support local communities around Kilimanjaro by establishing food security, offering healthg and education programmes and developing small business initiatives.

“Our focus is not only to relieve but also to empower communities to elevate themselves from the cycle of deprivation that keeps them poor.”

The Foundation recently held a fund-raising lunch attended by some 60 guests and it is planning two major events in 2012 to raise more money - a cycle challenge, Pedalling for Poverty, and a sponsored trek, Trekking for Change, to be held between October 12 and 22.

For further information, visit the KCF website www.kilicare.com, e-mail [email protected] or call Geri Carden on 0207 193 6413.