Kimberley goes for top despite sickness (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Kimberley goes for top despite sickness

6:35pm Thursday 5th March 2009 in

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It’s Mount Kimba-manjaro ahoy!

Despite crippling foot pain, altitude sickness and fellow climber Chris Moyles playing Right Said Fred records in his tent, Bradford pop star Kimberley Walsh is all set to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro tomorrow night.

Since Sunday, Kimberley has been climbing the African mountain to raise money for this year’s Comic Relief appeal.

She is in a fundraising group with fellow celebs including Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, fellow Girls Aloud bandmate and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole, Take That’s Gary Barlow and Denise Van Outen.

There were fears that Kimberley would have to pull out of the trek after she was diagnosed with a painful foot condition known as Morton’s Neuroma, which inflames the nerves and makes walking difficult.

But that’s been the least of her problems, mum Diane, of Sandy Lane, has revealed following an emotional satellite telephone call from halfway up the Tanzanian peak.

After speaking to her mum and sister Sally, Kimberley – nicknamed Kimba by her bandmates – revealed she has been suffering from altitude sickness.

Diane said: “She’s been looking after Cheryl, who’s been quite bad, and she’s been suffering from it herself.

“But she’s absolutely determined to keep on going, especially now the end’s in sight. They’re hoping to reach the summit sometime tomorrow.”

The team was celebrating yesterday when they heard they had broken the £900,000 barrier as sponsorship pledges pour in, and the total is expected to be well in excess of £1 million.

Yesterday they embarked upon a 250ft climb up the Barranco Wall section of the mountain – one of the most difficult areas. According to the Red Nose Day website Kimberley had a mishap almost immediately: “Ten mins into today’s climb and Kim sees her boot disappear into a mud hole. Just seven hours fifty mins to go.”

Comic Relief cash is used in Africa to give people the chance they deserve – like the child who catches malaria because his mother can’t afford a net to help protect him, or the woman in a violent relationship who has nowhere to turn, until she finds the refuge funded by Red Nose Day cash, say the organisers. To sponsor the BT Red Nose Climb go to rednoseday. com/sponsortheteam.