The eighth edition of the Kilimanjaro Challenge will seek to raise €65,000 to build a kindergarten school in Gambella, Ethiopia, a project that would be named in honour of the late Nirvana Azzopardi, the TV personality who died of cancer last year. Nearly half the sum has already been collected.

The team leaves Malta on December 27 arriving in Kilimanjaro on December 29. After orientation and acclimatisation, it will start the eight-day climb and subsequent descent of the mountain.

At 5,895 metres above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the world.

The challenge started off eight years ago when Fr George Grima, who for the past 25 years managed hundreds of project among poor children in Brazil, Kenya and Ethiopia approached Keith Marshall for assistance in funding a project.

The project has since seen almost 100 expedition members raising more than €450,000 for various projects including the construction of a school and convent in Bulbula, Ethiopia, a wing for a three-in-one project, a house hosting 100 physically disabled, deaf andblind children in Kenya and a clinic in Sakko, also in Ethiopia.

The next fundraising event by the KC8team will be a cboat part on Sunday.

Donations can be sent to tel: 5150 2084 (€5), 5160 2028 (€10), 5180 2095 (€25) SMS 5061 7389 (€2.33) 50618062 (€4.66)