The fundraising efforts of two long-time pals on behalf of Blackpool’s Brian House Children’s Hospice, will reach new heights on 3rd October 2023, when Adam Sutton, 45, commercial director Ameon, and Southport property developer, Cliff Barclay, 49, set off to reach the summit of Mount, Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, in a bid to raise more than £10,000 for the Fylde Coast children’s charity.
The duo’s lofty ambition will see them trekking and climbing from 3rd-10th October, during which time they aim to reach Kilimanjaro’s peak, Uhuru Point, which at 18,816 feet is the highest point on the African continent – no mean feat, given that Cliff Barclay has a fear of heights!
It will be a monumental feat for both men on behalf a charity that counts on donations to fund provision of its life-enhancing services and palliative care for children living with some of the most challenging medical conditions. And the two are going the extra mile to do their bit to show how important it is to countless families on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast, who rely solely on Brian House for care and respite in support of their children, during some of their darkest times.
Previously, Adam and fellow directors at Ameon formed a team to tackle a unique triathlon event in the Lake District, which raised over £11,000 for Brian House Children’s Hospice. The total raised was matched by us to take it to more than £22,000. And for the Kilimanjaro Challenge, we’ve once again agreed to match anything raised from this herculean effort.
Other than some trekking in The Lakes, with his wife and family, Adam of Tarleton, Lancashire has never tackled a mountain trek and climb on this scale, and although Birkdale based Cliff has tried his hand at ice climbing in the Alps, he described the experience as “both exhilarating and scary” – a fact not helped by Cliff’s aversion to heights.
Commented Adam Sutton: “When we agreed to do this, we were thinking of it as a bit of an adventure, but Cliff has done some research and there are some potential dangers, even though we’re in the hands of climbers experienced on Mount Kilimanjaro. Perhaps the two biggest threats are the potential for altitude sickness and camping out in the wild in Africa each night! However, the cause is worth the effort to reach the summit , because it will not only be a great personal achievement for us, but also bring in much needed donations for Brian House.”
For people wishing to support the challenge, a Just Giving page has been set up: https://www.justgiving.com/page/adam-sutton-1686584417627 , and as Adam and Cliff are self-funding all their travel and expenses, all money donated will go directly to Brian House Children’s Hospice.
Janet Atkins, Brian House’s corporate partnership manager is delighted to hear of the trek. She said: “People do all sorts of things to help raise funds in support of Brian House, but this is one of the more extreme examples.
“Adam and Cliff will be challenging themselves and the elements, so the achievement will be immense. In addition, the fact that Adam’s company, Ameon, will double whatever is raised, is fantastic news. The company is already an established supporter of ours, but to offer to double whatever is generated through donations is an extremely kind gesture.
“We wish Adam and Cliff all the best for the endeavour and look forward to charting their progress on the mountain, once they get underway in October.”
