Together the whole team is now on target to raise £95,000 which will be spent on research as well as help and care for sufferers.

Mr Ball, who is a parent/helper with the 4th Melton Darwin Scouts, took on the challenge after seeing an advert.

He said: “It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve done walks with the scouts before but nothing like this.

“We reached the peak last Thursday and got back on Sunday. It took us seven days to get up and down. In all we trekked about 70km uphill but it felt like a hell of a lot more. At the time it was literally about having the mental attitude to take one more step.”

The team took the Machame route up the mountain - the most scenic albeit steepest ascent.

But despite their exhausting climb the thought of raising so much money for charity spurred them on.

Mr Ball, whose mum, Josie, suffers from dementia, added: “It was just the best thing I’ve ever done and it’s fantastic to have helped raise that sort of money.”

As well as his wife, Sarah, and three children Charlotte (10), Rebecca (8) and Joe (7), Mr Ball would like to thank all those who sponsored and supported him including the Melton Phoenix Lions, W Osborne and Co accountants, local farmers, teachers at Brownlow Primary School where his children go and family and friends.

The full article contains 310 words and appears in Melton Times newspaper.
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* Source: Melton Times

Jo, now studying psychology at Newcastle University, raised more than £2,000 this summer with her sponsored ascent of 19,000 feet high Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.

She took on the challenge in aid of the charity, Comrades of Children Overseas (COCO), which provides education for children in the poorest parts of Africa.

In a village near Songea, she did general labouring work on a new centre where children whose families cannot afford school fees will learn a trade to enable them to earn a living.

“The money raised by the pupils at KES has helped provide valuable equipment for the centre,” she said. She thanked pupils in Year Seven last year for their support. “It was so rewarding to see how much difference the money was making to such a small rural community,” said Jo.

The full article contains 202 words and appears in Lynn News Tuesday newspaper.
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* Source: Lynn News Tuesday

As part of its “Moving Lives” programme, Executive Vice Chairman of the global port operator, Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, presented a cheque for Dh40,000 to seven-year-old Mazhar Atef and his family through the Emirates Arthritis Foundation to fund treatment of his disease.

Mazhar suffers from crippling rheumatoid arthritis which severely impacts his ability to participate in education and normal childhood activities.

Bin Thaniah said, “There are many people of all ages suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but this particular form of arthritis impacts children especially cruelly. While it is a painful and disabling illness, it can be treated and we are very happy to have the opportunity to make a difference to Mazhar’s life.”

Bin Thaniah said, “Our community programme Moving Lives is about helping people with disabilities become mobile and become involved in education and the community. This donation is an important part of this initiative.“

He added,” DP World is involved in the communities in which we operate around the world, and this is especially true of Dubai, where our roots are and where our flagship terminal, Jebel Ali, is located.”

Emirates Arthritis Foundation Director of Operations, Cathy Leibman said, “We are very happy to receive the support of DP World on behalf of Mazhar and his family. There is much work to be done in addressing RA in the community. To further highlight the issue of RA and raise funds for RA sufferers, a team of four volunteers, three from the USA and one from the UAE, are shortly embarking on a fund raising and awareness trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The team, including 33 year old Leela Alvares, will begin their trek on February 10, and it will last seven days.“

Alvares said, “This challenge started as a personal goal - my sister died as a result of rheumatoid arthritis. But the challenge is now something bigger. As a team, we aim to raise ongoing funds which will help all those supported by the Foundation.”

The trek will see the group climb to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest peak in Africa and the highest free standing peak in the world.

Donations can be made to the Emirates Arthritis Foundation by visiting www.arthritis.ae.

She said: “Over the last two years I have swum the Dalmatian Coast, held a 007 James Bond Ball on the River Thames in London, held various cake sales, car boot sales and auctions, and done a 13,500ft skydive.

“I’ve now set myself a new goal for 2008 - to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a close friend of mine, who sadly lost her grandfather to the disease.”

Caroline and friend Ellie Caldecott, who lives in London, will take on the mountain in October, and the pair hope to raise £10,000 in sponsorship.

They will climb to the 5,896m high summit of Uhuru, trekking for up to 12 hours a day for six days through dense jungle, rock and glaciers.

Caroline said: “This is most definitely the biggest challenge I have taken on and never thought I’d give something like this a go,
both in terms of raising funds and physical strength.

“I believe that it’s hugely important to remain positive and I’m not the kind of person who is able to stand by and do nothing.

“For me, the fund-raising gives me something positive to channel my energy into and it’s a great way to help other people while keeping me busy and keeping me fit.”
Sponsor Caroline and Ellie at www.justgiving.com/carolineclimbskili

Caroline has organised a Valentine’s ball and auction on Saturday, February 16, at Nottingham Racecourse, to raise money for the charity.

To book tickets, at £20 each, call Caroline on 07825 802786 or email: mills.caroline@btinternet.com
She will arrange for a coach to and from Grantham if there is enough demand.

* Have you raised lots of money for a charity? Click here to tell us about it.

Upper Makefield teen Clare Roche made the climb up Africa’s tallest mountain, not only for the adventure, but also for the time. Seven days scaling Mount Kilimanjaro and through its five ecosystems was a week alone with the father she would eventually be leaving behind for college.

So, on Christmas Day, Roche and her father, Richard, set out for the mountain’s peak, but not before the father-daughter pilgrimage turned into something else.

The trip became a chance to shine a spotlight on Tanzania, a majestic country troubled by crises such as war and famine, and to do something to help.

Roche, with the encouragement of her mother, Gail, made the trip a fund-raising effort to benefit UNICEF. The pair set a goal of raising $2,500 with hopes of highlighting the plight of children.

“Jenna Bush came to our school and talked about her book and the money she raised for UNICEF, and that just helped seal it,” said Roche, 16, a junior at Council Rock High School North. “But we didn’t think it would get his big.”

“Big” is Roche’s soccer and field hockey teammates, friends and family handing her checks and contributing on her UNICEF Web site. By late last week, Roche was $600 short of her goal.

As pledges came in, Roche and her father boarded a plane Dec. 22. After 19 hours in the air, they landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania. The Roches went on their mountain tour with Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International, which leads hiking trips around world.

“For the ordinary guy who just does a little hiking, this is his Everest,” said Todd Burleson, company owner and president. “People say it’s something they wanted to do their whole lives. It stems from Hemingway. Who knows? It’s a romantic mountain.”

The 19,340-foot trek to the top of Kilimanjaro doesn’t necessarily offer the romance of completely roughing it. The Roches’ party of seven hikers included one guide and 50 porters who carried luggage, equipment and provisions, set up camp and prepared the food. Large tents were erected to serve as sleeping and dining areas.

“The food was amazing,” Clare Roche said. “Omelets, oatmeal, pasta, soup.”

“They’d feed us and we’d start climbing the mountain, and then they pass you on the way up and by the time you get to camp, the tent is up and they’re fixing lunch,” Richard Roche said.

Mount Kilimanjaro is called the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. From the bottom up, its terrain evolves from rain forest to moorland, alpine desert, and finally rocks and ice, Burleson said. Tours with Alpine Ascents cost about $4,000 per person, excluding airfare, and include a post-climb safari.

About 25,000 attempt to hike the mountain each year. The altitude, and becoming accustomed to the climate, have taken their toll on climbers, Burleson said. Several die annually.

The deaths are most always because people get sick and don’t turn around, Burleson said, and they don’t have skilled guides. “We carry oxygen and medication for nausea,” he said. The Roches’ party of seven included two lawyers, the owner of a public relations firm, and a music executive. Clare Roche was the youngest.

“I was extremely nervous - from when [her father] told me to when we arrived at the mountain,” Clare Roche said. “And I didn’t get excited until we got on the plane and it became a reality.”

Richard Roche, a skilled hiker who has hiked at Mount Everest, felt sure his daughter could handle the climb because of her training as an athlete. He watched her transition from what he calls an “Upper Makefield/MTV” existence to a “mountain-climbing head.”

“You’re dirty, you’re tired, and there’s no shower. You can’t wash your hair for a week,” said Richard Roche, 55. “She was as grungy as the rest of us.”

That mountain experience turned into a contemplative one.

“You get separated from what’s going on at home,” Clare Roche said. “You don’t matter on the mountain because you’re with the people who are doing what you’re doing. You can walk and just think.”

Roche and her father climbed with their group to 18,000 feet. They were just 1,340 feet from the top when they decided to stop. Clare Roche had been ill with a bad cold that she couldn’t shake, a condition aggravated by the altitude.

“I was disappointed, but there was nothing you could do,” Clare Roche said.

The rest of their party went on to the top. Then, it took just two days to descend the mountain. After that, a safari, and home.

As for the bonding, Clare Roche says she learned that her father won’t quit even when weary. Richard Roche said his daughter succeeded at something that he knew she could do, even if she wasn’t so sure.

“It brought me closer to my dad, and we raised money to help people,” Clare Roche said. “We accomplished both of those things, so I’d say it was a very successful trip.”

“There’s a sense that many places and wildlife we’ve taken for granted are disappearing,” she continues. “And the changes are happening now, within our lifetime.”

Happily, though, at the moment Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain on the African Continent at 19,336 feet, remains ice-capped, snow-spread and majestic in glacial splendor. When that may change is a matter of scientific dissension.

The New York Times of Sunday, January 20 featured a first person account of a climb up the majestic mountain’s summit titled, “On Africa’s Roof, Still Crowned With Snow.” Writer Neil Modie quotes experts who say that the mountain’s glaciers are disappearing due to climate change, but also describes his own observation and experience of snow, ice, and diverse “spectacular” ecological zones throughout the mountain.

Steeped in legend, capturing the compelling beauty of Tanzania, Mt. Kilimanjaro holds a special place as one of Tanzania’s famed tourist sites. For many tourists to the East African country, a climb up Kilimanjaro is the highlight of their lives. These climbers contribute to the booming tourism economy.

According to Gerald Bigurube, Director General of the Tanzania National Parks, “at the moment, between 30-35,000 people climb Mt. Kilimanjaro annually.” The trek may be rigorous or accessible, depending on which of six different paths are selected.
“The best time of year for the climb,” notes Mr. Bigurube “is January through February and mid-June through mid-October.”

Climbers may choose a variety of different camping arrangements on their way to the top of the mountain, ranging from simple to elaborate, the latter providing guides, porters and overnight camping sites with dining facilities.

These climbers contribute to the booming tourism economy in Tanzania. According to Hon. Prof. Jumanne Maghembe, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, it is expected that “the tourism sector, which currently contributes 17.2% to the economy of the United Republic of Tanzania, will reach even higher levels quickly.” The Minister notes that the country’s main markets are Britain, the U.S., Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Scandinavia. The U.S. market is extremely strong, and is predicted to outreach the others in the next few years.

Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourist Board, Peter Mwenguo, adds, “about $ 1 billion USD is expected from tourism activities this year, an increase of $862 million last year.”

If he tries, it takes him more than an hour due to his severely inflamed joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can result in deformity, disability and sometimes death. Medication for the disease can cost dhs70,000 – a sum that is too high for Mustapha’s family to afford.

Leela Alvares, a senior copy writer for an advertising agency, knows more than most about the cost of treating rheumatoid arthritis, as her sister suffered from the illness for seven years before she succumbed to it three years ago.

Now Leela, 33, wants to help raise funds for Mustapha – who lives in Sharjah - and dispel the myth that rheumatoid arthritis only affects the elderly.

The money raised will pay for treatment which will enable Mustapha to play freely – without immediate treatment he could become disabled for life.

Leela said: “I am from Bombay and have always been into trekking. I’m in love with the mountains. There is a starkness and absolute peace about them which I enjoy. This challenge started as a personal goal because my sister died of rheumatoid arthritis but now it is something bigger.

We’ve raised more than dhs60,000 for Mustapha which has exceeded our target. With my sister we thought she would get better but we didn’t understand. There was not enough information which we could access.”

Leela will be flying to Kilimanjaro on Saturday, February 9. Recently she has been doing plenty of training ahead of the seven-day trek up the highest free-standing mountain in the world, which stands at a massive 19,340 feet.

Mustapha’s doctor, Cathy Leibman, is also director of operations for Emirates Arthritis Foundation – a group whose mission is to increase awareness and education about arthritis in the Middle East, while improving the quality of life for sufferers. Dr Leibman said: “Mustapha can’t do everyday things like play in the playground.

“It’s even difficult for him to dress himself and tie his own shoe laces. He is so sweet and loves football but he cannot play as much as his friends can. At the moment he is on some great treatment and coping well but we need money to continue it.” To sponsor Leela in her challenge, visit www.arthritis.ae.

The grandmother-of-six has become a legend in her own lifetime thanks to her ceaseless fundraising work for the children’s charity, MedEquip4Kids.

On February 23 she will set off on her latest adventure - a nine day trip across one of the world’s most inhospitable regions.

Mrs Stones, aged 67, of Bradshaw, has previously trekked across the Grand Canyon, along the Great Wall of China, down the Inca trail in Peru and up Mount Kilimanjaro.

She says that despite all the dangers involved in her trips, the pleasure makes them more than worthwhile.

“I am worried about the heat and the sandstorms, and everything else, but I’m looking forward to it,” she says.

“I’m also looking forward to seeing the night sky without the light pollution that you get here, I think that will be magic.”

Mrs Stones says she is also looking forward to seeing Mount Toubkal - the highest peak in the Atlas Mountain range in Morocco - although she has visited the mountain before.

She says: “When I climbed it, it was covered in thick mist.

“When we got to the top we were told, down there is the Sahara desert’ - but you could have been on a bombsite in Manchester during the war, there was just rubble. We couldn’t see a thing.”

Mrs Stones says that her greatest regret was not reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro on her last trip, due to altitude sickness.

She says: “I wouldn’t mind having another go, but I really don’t know if I’ll be able to put myself through that again.”

Mrs Stones will be accompanied on the Sahara adventure by her friend Lynn Gartside.

They have been training by walking up and down the dunes on Southport beach.

Mrs Stones also does pilates to keep in shape and spends the rest of her spare time organising charity tombolas.

She says: “As soon as my house is cluttered with boxes and my husband says I can’t get into the garage’, I know it’s time to do a tombola. If anyone has any unwanted Christmas presents, or they’re spring cleaning, please remember me.”

In 2005, a mysterious visitor helped Elizabeth’s fundraising efforts.

She had written a letter to The Bolton News about her tombolas, and one morning awoke to find a bag containing a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of vodka and two jars of luxury jam left on her doorstep.

“I well up when I think of whoever that was, doing that annonymously. I think that is so beautiful.”

# Anyone wishing to donate tombola prizes can contact Elizabeth on 01204 302369.