Members of a Lanarkshire charity hit the heights recently for a good cause.
A 15-strong team reached the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in a successful attempt to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.
Among the group were Stuart McGregor, executive director of the Lightburn Elderly Association Project in Cambuslang, and Jim Pettigrew, the charity’s project manager, and the duo joined the rest of their team in raising almost £180,000 (and counting) for Macmillan.
The team – organised by Macmillan fundraisers Team McKeown – reached the summit on October 16 after several days climbing and getting used to the rarefied atmosphere.
Kilimanjaro, situated south of the equator in Tanzania at 19,340 feet, (5895m), is the world’s highest ‘free standing’ mountain and Stuart admitted it was a tough but inspiring trip.
He said: “This experience will stay with me forever. It was a gruelling climb. The higher we went the worse it got as the air got thinner but it was a once in a lifetime event and it was one I wouldn’t have swapped for anything.
"Now though, I’ll be sticking to events such as walking the West Highland Way to help raise funds – that’s much more my sort of walk."
Team McKeown have been fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support since November 2003.
The group's success was congratulated online by a spokesperson for MacMillan Cancer Support, who stated: We've loved seeing the updates from the journey and we really appreciate your support to help people living with cancer.
"Just amazing!
"We hope you enjoy a well earned rest after this monumental effort."
LEAP is a charity supporting people in Lanarkshire aged 50 and over.
It delivers support in Blantyre, Bothwell, Cambuslang, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Rutherglen, Stonehouse, Strathaven and Uddingston and more details on what they offer can be found here.
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