High-flying Sarah aims to hit fund-raising peak

SCALING new heights will help keep a very important helicopter flying.

Sarah Thompson, who works at Ford Prison, will climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, in aid of Sussex Air Ambulance next month.

The 26-year-old, from Shoreham, pictured right, said: “For years I’ve wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and I’m looking forward to experiencing different climates including rain forests, deserts, snow and ice.

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“I’m also looking forward to the different animals that Africa has to offer and the sunrise at the summit.”

As well as the excitement, there was a little apprehension, she added.

“I’m not looking forward to the altitude sickness, the midnight start or going from 30c to minus 15c and then back to 30c within seven days.

“In the back of my mind I fear I will not reach the summit but the thought of raising money for the air ambulance will spur me on to reach the top.”

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As a biker herself, she said she understood the important of the charity.

“I am very much aware of the things that can go wrong and when they do it is the air ambulance which often comes to the rescue,” she said.

It will take her and three others a week to reach the summit of the 19,340ft mountain, in Tanzania, but just two days to get back down.

She will set off to start her adventure on February 6 and has been training by running, cycling and hill-walking on the South Downs with her husky dog, Lola.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Sarah should log on to the website www.justgiving.com/sarah-thompson11