Two aspiring mountaineers who raised more than £5,000 after scaling Africa’s highest peak have handed over the cash to a charity that is close to their hearts.
Richard Stone and Jason Lumley from SR Timber raised the money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after making it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro – which stands at just shy of 6,000m tall.
The choice of raising the money for the BHF was a unanimous decision made by all the staff at the company after one of the team tragically lost their daughter shortly after birth due to a heart defect.
Richard and Jason spent seven months preparing for the seven-day trek to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, and Les Baynton, a local volunteer at the BHF was on hand to congratulate the duo for their efforts, not only in reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro but also in raising so much money for the charity.
Sophie Parkins, area fundraising manager for the East Midlands at the BHF, said: “The BHF is the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK, so every penny counts as we continue our pioneering research to help to transform the lives of the seven million people living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK today.
“We are very grateful to SR Timber for choosing to support the BHF and to Richard and Jason for undertaking such a demanding challenge. The money raised, thanks to their friends and family, as well as customers and suppliers, will make such a difference to so many lives.”
Richard said: “It was a tough challenge: probably the hardest physical challenge of my life! However, when you take those final steps – despite feeling like you can’t – to the very top of the mountain, it makes it all worth it.
“It was a view and feeling I’ll never forget, and I’d like to say a huge, mountainous thank you to everyone who has donated: you kept us going, and, more importantly, the funds raised will change the lives of many!”
Jason added: “It was the fear of letting everyone down that spurred me on. There was no way I was going to fail myself, Richard, SR Timber and everyone who has so kindly donated to the British Heart Foundation.”
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