Kilimanjaro
On Saturday 13th August 2005, the Manchester Evening News team finally conquered Mount Kilimanjaro for Kirsty.
The eight-strong team reached the summit of the formidable mountain at 8am after a six day gruelling trek up the 20,000ft peak to raise money for the Kirsty Appeal for Francis House Children's Hospice.
Led by MEN editor Paul Horrocks and deputy managing director Mark Rix, the adventurers have had to cope with altitude sickness, illness, and dehydration as well as the physical challenge of scaling the world's tallest free-standing mountain.
They began their final ascent at 10pm with the moon and headlamps providing just enough light for the toughest part of their climb to the rooftop of Africa.
12 hour trek
The team trekked for 12 hours straight to reach the crater rim of Kilimanjaro, and then walked around the crater to reach the peak just after sunrise.
Speaking from the summit Paul Horrocks said: We are utterly physically and emotionally drained, but the sign in front of us reads:
Congratulations. You are now at Uhuru peak Tanzania.
The view is unbelievable. As we look across there are glaciers all around and a huge valley in front if us. It is fantastic. Every one of us has made it and we are just about to unfurl our Kirsty poster on the peak of Kilimanjaro.
This was all about raising funds for, and raising the profile of Francis House, and I think we have done just that. We want to say a massive thank you to all the MEN readers, our sponsors and the business community who have supported us on this climb for Kirsty.
Figure raised
The MEN team's efforts have raised around £70,000 for the Kirsty appeal.
The team also included fireman Phil Davenport; Dave Healy, deputy postal manager at Metro News' Deansgate headquarters; Hervey Magnall, owner of The Fisherman's Retreat restaurant, near Ramsbottom; Didsbury business consultant Phil Tonge; Ian Marshall and Dave Rix - brother of Mark, and a former detective inspector who is currently finishing studies in Cape Town, South Africa to become a solicitor.
They were inspired to tackle the sponsored climb of Kilimanjaro by little Kirsty Howard's battle to raise £5m to secure the future of Francis House Children's Hospice in Didbsury.
Kirsty, who was born with her heart back to front, has inspired people across the world with her courage in the face of her own illness and her campaign to raise the profile of the hospice which cares for her.
For more information on the Kilimanjaro expedition, visit Manchester Online.
