A DOUGLAS man will be scaling Mount Kilimanjaro for charity after having a crisis about nearing age 40.
Stuart Clifford, of Glen Falcon Terrace, will be taking part in the seven-day trek to the 5,895-metre summit of the world’s largest freestanding mountain – which is located in Tanzania, East Africa – for charity.
The 39-year-old hopes to raise at least £4,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), a children’s hospital in London, after his niece Tyler spent two months there in 2008, receiving life saving chemotherapy treatment and a bone marrow transplant.
‘During what was a difficult time for Tyler and the whole family the help and support provided by everyone at the hospital was truly amazing,’ he said.
‘The work the hospital does is supported a great deal by fundraising efforts and I have decided it is time to do my bit.’
Stuart, who will celebrate his 40th birthday during the 77-kilometre trek in February, said: ‘This whole thing sort of came about as I was having a crisis about hitting 40 and wanted to get away.
‘One of my friends then told me I should do something for charity “before I was past it” – nice friend – so over a few glasses of wine one night I took a look at what Great Ormond Street were doing around the time of my birthday.
‘After a few weeks of getting up the courage, I went ahead and signed up.’
Speaking about his training, he said: ‘It is going okay but, if I’m honest, I should probably be doing more.
‘I am pushing myself more and more each week with a combination of walking, running and the use of Wii Fit.
‘The Wii Fit is quite annoying as it keeps telling me I am not losing much weight, but I am working on the principle that the fat is turning into muscle which weighs more!’
Stuart, a principal at Baker Tilly Isle of Man, moved to the island from London in 2002 for work. He said: ‘Anyone that knows me will understand that walking – unless on the golf course – is not something I am keen on and as for sleeping in a tent without air conditioning, a mini-bar and room service... But, if Chris Moyles can do it, so can I.’
He said he hoped people would sponsor him even though Great Ormond Street Hospital was not a Manx charity. He added: ‘With the specialist services that GOSH provides, I have no doubt that island residents have, and will benefit from, the work the hospital does.’
To sponsor Stuart, visit his JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Clifford