Kilimanjaro charity climb less than a month away!

A team from Oakland International have less than a month before they undertake a gruelling once-in-a-lifetime adventure to climb Kilimanjaro and help raise their target of £10,000 for the Oakland Foundation, officially launched by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal last month. Leaving on the 16th August, sponsorship money raised will go towards local youth initiatives based on Health and Nutrition, Education and Sport to support underprivileged children in the Redditch area and Bromsgrove district, with the money raised through donations from Oakland International team members, friends, family, customers, suppliers and retailers. Oakland International’s key organiser, Keith Davies, stated: “It’s all getting very real with the team now on its last big push to secure pledges. So far we’ve raised £1750 towards our target of £10k so still some way to go!” Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s highest climbable mountains, so no mobile phones or home comforts. It will be also be very much back to nature with a bump for the group of eight who will face sub-zero temperatures during their 6-day climb. Previous fundraising events have included an It’s a Knockout Challenge and a sponsored Sky Dive which each raised over £5,000, so their latest challenge is hoping to double their previous sponsorship targets. “As well as climbing to Uhuru peak, we’re hoping to see some amazing views of Kenya and Tanzania as well as enjoying local African wildlife. It will be simply amazing.” added Keith. The highest free-standing mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro attracts intrepid trekkers from across the globe each hoping to reach its summit some 5895m above sea level.  Home to three volcanoes and set within a National Park; Shira, Mawenzi and the Uhuru Peak on Kibo marking the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. The Oakland Team consists of Oakland International’s MD Dean Attwell, business support analyst Keith Davies, warehouse operative Daniel Hamer, European customer support and development manager Edith Hurst-Earl who will be joined by her acupuncturist husband Ken whose task is to focus his specialist holistic therapy skills on keeping the team’s bodies, minds and souls intact. Joining them are Stuart Starkey of Starkey Electrical, Chris Shuker of Central IT Systems, Cory Winstanley of British Transport Police and Patrick Shuker of Avelo Mortgage Products. Donations can be made by emailing marketing and events co-ordinator Hayley Smith at hayley.smith@oakland-international.com or by calling 01527 593953. Regular posts and blogs will keep everyone up to date as they make their way to the summit and back, and a daily video diary will also be kept to show friends, family and colleagues when they finally return home.