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A team of trekkers from Guernsey has reached the summit of Africa’s highest mountain after a final nine-hour climb in the dark and sub-zero temperatures.
It took the climbers a week to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which stands 5,895 metres above sea level. They reached the peak early in the morning.
At the summit, "the sunrise was the most beautiful shades of red and orange over the valley below", said Natalie Tucker, Chair of ActionAid Guernsey, for which the climbers were raising money.
"After almost four years of planning, three-and-a-half years since most of the team signed up, three postponements and more than two years since the original trip dates, the team was elated finally to stand on the roof of Africa," said Ms Tucker.
"After returning to a lower altitude, the team reflected that it was the most difficult thing they had ever done, but also the most amazing and rewarding experience that will be treasured forever."
Pictured: The ActionAid Guernsey climbers, who reached the summit of the largest mountain in Africa.
Keith de Carteret, who is 82, was in the team which reached the summit. He is one of the oldest people to have climbed Kilimanjaro.
"It was incredible and very surreal finally to reach our goal of climbing Kilimanjaro. We had to dig really deep to keep putting one foot in front of the other for the summit push, but it was all worth it once we got to the top," said Mr de Carteret.
"We couldn’t have done it without all the brilliant guides and porters from African Scenic Safaris. They're just unbelievable and we’re so grateful to them for all their support on the mountain."
Pictured: Fireman Gavin Robins was among the climbers to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The team raised over £70,000 towards a project addressing violence against women and children in Zanzibar, an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania.
Before starting their climb, they spent time with Joram Wimmo of ActionAid Tanzania, who explained the positive impact of the project.
It included public forums and debates, education in schools and empowering women to be financially independent through grants and training to help them start their own businesses. The work was undertaken in conjunction with the local community, religious leaders and government officials.
The project even led to the President of Zanzibar introducing a new law which denies bail for any perpetrators of violence against women and children.
Ms Tucker said: "It's an amazing project that has been really successful. Thank you so much to everyone who donated to the team's fund raising over the past few years. It’s made such a difference to people’s lives."
Pictured: The climbers had to be patient because their ascent up Kilimanjaro was significantly delayed by covid-19, but crucially they still raised more than £70,000 towards life-changing projects in Tanzania.
Mr Wimmo presented Ms Tucker with a gift for her team. It represented the average home of the average person in Zanzibar – a reminder that having a home does not mean that women and children are free from violence.
"With ActionAid Guernsey's support, many more women and children in communities in Zanzibar are now able to sleep safely in their homes without the threat of violence," said Ms Tucker.
ActionAid is one of the charities which benefits from the proceeds of the World Aid Walk. The trekkers donated spare t-shirts from previous editions of the Walk to 65 guides and porters who assisted them up the mountain. Other spare t-shirts were donated to school children in the region.
Pictured (top): The climbers at Uhuru peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Delayed mountain trek underway
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