A local grandmother and nurse completed the challenge of a lifetime earlier this month when she reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world at 5,895 metres.
Sheila Blenkin, of Bishop Auckland, flew to Tanzania on Thursday 29th January and, after an overnight stay, started the 5 day Lemosho route climb with a group of 22 strangers to raise funds for local charity, the Butterwick Hospice.
She finally reached the summit on Friday 6th February at around 7am with an amazing view of the Tanzanian sunrise.
Temperatures on the climb ranged from 32 degrees to -15 degrees with extremes at both ends of the climb. A short time was spent on the summit for the commemorative photo due to the severe conditions before starting the two day descent back to the gate.
Sheila said, “It was the most challenging thing I have ever attempted but the most rewarding by far and something I will never forget.”
Sheila has raised just under £4,000 with the help of Cockton Hill Junior School and Bishop Barrington Comprehensive.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
