All 18 members of the Kilimanjaro challenge have made it to the peak in good health, high spirits and on tired legs.
Coordinator Keith Marshall spent a sleepless night as he waited for the latest update.
“They summited early in the morning but I didn’t hear from them until 1pm. One of the team members has a GPS tracker so I could see that he had summited but I had no news about the rest of the group.
“I didn’t expect all 18 to summit – I was worried because one particular member struggled with altitude sickness. But he also made it to the peak in the end.”
The Facebook page has fed the public frequent updates. The post before the summit push read as follows:
“A year of training, fundraising, a little blood, a lot of sweat and no doubt a couple of tears all culminates in the next 24 hours or so. This morning KC8 will have started making their way from Karanga at 4,000 metres to Barafu at 4,670 metres.
“Here they will rest (restlessly) until close to midnight and then start the long, hard climb to the summit, Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres. This will be equivalent to climbing 360 floors over their eight to nine-hour summit push.
“They will be led and helped along by highly experienced guides,most of whom grew up on the mountain and know it intimately, so we know everyone will be in the safest of hands. For most it will be the toughest day and night of their lives, but will forever be etched in their memories as the one that redefines their limits, self confidence and strength. We eagerly await news of their progress.” Having fulfilled those aspirations, the team is now expected to head to Malta on January 17. The 5,895-metre ascent was the last phase of the eighth edition of the challenge which saw the group successfully raise €65,000 for a kindergarten to be built in Gambella, Ethiopia.
The kindergarten will be called the Nirvana Azzopardi Kindergarten in honour of the late TV personality who died last year following a two-year battle with cancer. The kindergarten will be opened on February 6 and will cater for 200 children aged between five and 10. It will also run a daily feeding programme and children will be taught basic hygiene.
Donations can be sent on: 5150 2084 (€5), 5160 2028 (€10), 5180 2095 (€25) or via SMS on 5061 7389 (€2.33) 50618062 (€4.66).