A Bishop Auckland College manager has conquered Mount Kilimanjaro to help raise £75,000 for charity – and inspire the young Duke of Edinburgh volunteers he leads.
Rob Richardson, Head of Business Development, has just returned from Tanzania, where he braved temperatures of minus 25 degrees to reach the mountain’s 19,000ft Uhuru Peak.
Rob, recently appointed as co-ordinator for the new Durhamgate Duke of Edinburgh programme, said, “Getting to the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world was no easy feat. With temperatures on summit night reaching -25°C, it proved to be a difficult challenge during which a number of the group suffered from the effects of high altitude related conditions and exhaustion.”
The climb was in aid of Rob’s favourite charity, Help for Heroes, and the group of 23 participants were accompanied by two soldiers who were part of the Help for Heroes Battle Back programme, which aims to get wounded soldiers back on their feet after suffering injury in service.
The expedition was Rob’s third challenge for the charity since 2010, having previously completed a 350-mile cycle ride across Northern France and a six day trek in the Annapurna range of mountains in Nepal.
Rob, who is already planning his next charity climb – Mount Everest Base Camp in March 2013, added, “This has been my biggest challenge to date but I hope by doing this it will inspire the young people joining the Durhamgate Duke of Edinburgh programme to see that by setting themselves personal goals and embracing a challenge they can achieve so much.
“I would like them to appreciate how much the Duke of Edinburgh programme can give them in terms of confidence, self belief and a sense of achievement that only comes from pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
