Just over a year ago, I said goodbye to my beautiful golden retriever, Lewis. He originally trained to be a guide dog for the blind, but when he was withdrawn for being a little too mischievious, I was lucky enough to rehome him and he became my best friend for the next 12 years.
Lewis had a remarkable spirit. He helped raise vital funds for rescue animals and was always by my side at fundraising events. He even came in to our IAR UK office, charming everyone he met. Losing him broke my heart, and in the midst of that grief, I felt the need to channel my energy into something meaningful, something big! That’s when I set my sights on Mount Kilimanjaro and knew that I wanted to do this for International Animal Rescue in memory of Lewis.
At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, and the toughest challenge I’ve ever tackled. I joined the Lemosho route with Action Challenge and my long-time friend Aditi, trekking with a diverse group of adventurers who were aged between 21-60 years old. Over six nights on the mountain, we slowly acclimatised, hiking through the rainforest, seeing local wildlife like the Colubus monkeys, moving onto moorland and up towards the glaciers.
The route included some demanding sections, particularly the volcanic Barranco Wall, but the support from our guides was incredible. Meeting them was one of the true highlights of the entire experience. Olaa and Emmanuel were especially supportive to me, sharing their local knowledge, lifting our spirits with their energy and mountain songs, and offering a steady arm whenever dizziness struck.
Summit day began at midnight, trekking under a sky full of shooting stars. As the sun rose, we reached Stella Point for a celebratory cup of Kilimanjaro champange (hot ginger tea) before pushing on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Reaching the summit felt incredible, a real mix of pride, exhaustion, and awe.
After taking in the breath-taking views, being above the clouds and feeling on top of the world we descended back through the rainforest, greeted at the end with more singing and dancing. Climbing Kilimanjaro was beautiful, challenging, and deeply life-changing!
I’m proud to say I also raised £3,914 for International Animal Rescue—helping protect animals around the world and giving them the chance to live free from pain and suffering, just as they deserve.
If climbing Kilimanjaro has always been on your bucket list, why not take on the challenge yourself to help animals in need? Find out more here. Or email [email protected] and I’d be happy to answer any questions.