Five intrepid nurses who work for LOROS Hospice are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the charity.
Mandy Ryan, 58, from Melton joins her fellow nurses Leanne Cole, Amanda Carter, Claire Halford and Kathleen Lancaster on a rigorous training schedule to prepare for the trek on 20th September.
The self-styled ‘blister sisters’ will be trekking through dense tropical rainforest to scale the 5,895m snow-capped peak of Africa’s highest mountain.
The nurses who care for patients on the ward in the hospice have been fundraising all year for the challenge and training on and off between their shifts.
Mandy said: “Training for this has completely changed my lifestyle – I never thought I’d own a pair of walking poles!”
“We’ve been doing a lot of walking – we have such a laugh! We’re used to long hours and hard work so I think that will help.
Mandy and her ‘blister sisters’ know it will be a real challenge but are determined to get to the top.
“It won’t be great not being able to shower for a week or use a proper toilet. The altitude is also a bit of a worry, but we’re all looking forward to it.”
“Everything we make will go to LOROS – we’re all covering the cost of the trip ourselves. We want to raise as much money as we possibly can as the care LOROS provides is outstanding. I feel privileged to work here and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Thinking of that will keep me going.”
LOROS fundraising events lead Andrew Ward said: “Our Mount Kilimanjaro trek is not for the faint hearted – walking 6-7 hours per day for days and days, some of it at altitude.
“Mandy and her colleagues are hugely committed to LOROS and we’d like to wish them, and all other participants, the very best of luck in their challenge.”
To donate to Mandy’s fundraising, please visit her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mandy-ryan2
