GPW Recruitment’s Gary Ward, Operations Director and Carl Foster, Divisional Manager are taking part in the Steve Prescott Foundation (SPF) Kilimanjaro Challenge 2017 raising funds and awareness for 3 special causes the Christie Manchester, the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and the SPF Special Causes Fund.
Both Gary and Carl will be amongst 40 climbers who will be tackling Mount Kilimanjaro in October 2017 to raise funds for the SPF. The challenge follows on from the SPF epic record breaking Guinness Book of World Records highest game of rugby in 2015 and the inaugural SPF trek in 2013.
Carl’s reasons for doing the challenge:
“8 years ago after successfully scaling Ben Nevis; a challenge we had already failed earlier that same year, Gary and I finally made it to the top and as we looked out onto the North Face we made a crazy flippant statement…..Kilimanjaro next!!
8 years later the opportunity arose to make that statement a possibility.
We could not only make it a possibility but raise money for a charity that is really close to both of us.
I also want to dedicate the challenge to my Amazing Sister Karen. In August 2016 Karen passed away after a long battle with cancer. Like Steve Prescott she fought on longer than anyone would have ever imagined and I promised myself that if anything came up that I could dedicate to her then I would do just that. I will be planting a flag and a bonsai tree at the top of Kilimanjaro for her as well as having a laugh and a joke with her!”
Gary’s reasons for doing the challenge:
“It can’t be much harder than North Road!!
This is going to be a fantastic challenge, I feel proud to be helping to raise funds and awareness of such worthy causes.”
Fundraising Events
Over the next 6 months there will be various events held across the North West including 5 a side football tournaments, golf shootouts, rock n roll bingo, curry nights and auctions to support our challenge.
World records
Hopefully once everyone makes it to the top, not only will we be attempting to break the world record for the highest ever game of football but myself and Gary will be attempting some new world records.
We are looking for ideas from you! Records we can break at the top of Kili. All ideas most welcome, the wackier the better!
About Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world. By free-standing, or non-massif, we mean it is not part of a mountain range.
The summit on Mount Kilimanjaro is called Uhuru Peak and stands at 5,895m or 19,341 feet.
But here’s an interesting Kilimanjaro Fact: Both Everest Base Camp’s – South and North – are below the summit of Kilimanjaro; however, most climbers take upwards of 8-10 days to reach EBC.
On Kilimanjaro trekkers on fast routes reach the summit within 4-5 days. The rapid ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro makes it a difficult and rather dangerous mountain to hike due to the risks of Altitude Sickness.
As the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro makes up one of the Seven Summits (i.e. highest mountains on each of the seven continents).
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