The challenge of scaling the world’s highest free-standing mountain lies ahead for an Angus dad as he embarks on an African adventure.
Steve Mitchell is part of a group from across Scotland flying from Glasgow today and days from now they aim to be at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with the plains of Africa stretching almost 20,000 feet below them and many thousands of pounds in the bag for armed forces charity Erskine.
Businessman Steve (43), from Letham, is a keen amateur motor racer and is determined to show he has the drive to reach the top of the lofty African peak.
His interest in the climb was sparked by a friend who raises funds for Erskine and Steve has already exceeded his £5000 target.
The leader is former army officer Chris Moon, a renowned motivational speaker who lost part of his right arm and leg in a landmine blast in Mozambique in 1995. He has gone on to complete some of the world’s toughest ultra marathons and raised huge sums of money for charity in challenges including Kilimanjaro climbs and a run the length of Cambodia.
“Chris is now an ambassador for Erskine and is an absolutely inspirational guy who gets the best out of everyone,” Steve said. “He has a 100% record of leading his team to the top of Kilimanjaro, so there’s no pressure on us!
“My biggest fear is altitude sickness and we’ll have to climb slowly to give ourselves the best possible chance of reaching the top.”
After their arrival in Nairobi the Erskine fund-raisers hope to start their assault on the mountain late on Friday afternoon.
“We will be taking the Rongai route from the north. That should give us the best chance of seeing some wildlife and we hope to reach the summit on what will be a very cold dawn on Tuesday,” Steve said.
“We are carrying all our own gear, including tents, stoves, water and ration packs in rucksacks weighing around 20 kilos. There will be no room for luxuries.
“I have funded the trip myself so all the money raised will be going to Erskine and I’m really grateful to everyone who has supported me.
“Watching recent events in Afghanistan and around the globe has made us all very aware of the sacrifices that our troops make day in, day out, and it is vital that the care that Erskine provides is ongoing.”
Steve can be sponsored online at www.justgiving.com/steve-mitchell-kilimanjaro
Photo of Kilimanjaro used under a Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Marc van der Chijs