On the 7th October, Owen Clark a member of the Wales Transport Research Centre, based at Glamorgan Business School left for Tanzania to take on the epic challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro.
Owen represented the Business School’s GlamBiz Gift campaign as he encouraged and supported thirty fundraisers to raise money for sixteen different charities. For most people climbing Kilimanjaro once, would be enough, but this was Owen’s second time, he says:
“It is tough physically and mentally, and remains the most difficult challenge I’ve ever had to conquer.”
Owen volunteered for Classic Tours, supporting the fundraisers to realise their dreams of reaching the summit of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. For details of upcoming charity events organised by Classic Tours see – http://www.classictours.co.uk. Owen adds:
“It’s a privilege for me to have this opportunity. I enjoy the challenge that the climb represents, but I gain more of a sense of achievement by helping so many people raise money for their chosen charities.”
Climbing the mountain was a culmination of many months hard work for the group of fundraisers. Since signing up for the climb they will have been finding as many ways as possible of encouraging people to pledge their support in the form of sponsorship money. The money raised will go to sixteen chosen charities, including the Alzheimer’s Society, Children with Leukaemia and the RNIB.
The fundraisers have been committed to a gruelling training regime for the past few months, working to build their strength and fitness ahead for what is likely to be the greatest challenge of their lives. The group had to cope with the effects of altitude sickness, freezing temperatures e.g. minus -15 to -30 C and obviously the climb. They walked at the slowest member of the group’s pace from early morning to late afternoon for seven days.
To hear about Owen Clark’s adventures representing GlamBiz Gift and Glamorgan Business School from the other side of the world, follow him on Twitter.
