Otley & Aireborough
Charity couple are just the tops!
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| Margaret Robinson with Rosie, an orphaned HIV/Aids victim who the charity is trying to help |
A retired couple have clambered their way to the top of one of the world's highest peaks to continue their campaign against poverty.
Garrie Bolton, 55, and Margaret Robinson, 56, of Otley, have taken their fundraising total to £22,000 by conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
The money will continue to be spent by Helping Africa 100, a charity they set up a little more than a year ago, to help improve the lives of impoverished people in Tanzania.
It aims to kick-start sustainable development projects and £3,000 raised by the mountain trek will be used to help provide homes, education, vocational training, food, clothes and equipment.
Garrie said: "After six days trekking up the mountain, we began the final ascent at midnight - an exhausting eight-hour climb through snow and ice - before reaching the highest point Uhuru peak at 19,344 feet.
"We were elated. It was the hardest physical challenge of our lives, but what's even more important is that the money raised will make such a big difference to the lives of others in Tanzania."
The couple and trustees of the charity pay all the travelling costs and the administration expenses themselves.
The aim is to cut out the middle man so that all the money they raise goes directly to African communities.
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| Garrie Bolton and Margaret Robinson at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro which they climbed for their charity |
Margaret said: "We have raised some money through garden parties at our home and we are slowly building up a group of special friends who are either making regular standing order donations or are partaking in special fund-raising events of their own including sponsored runs.
"We are hugely grateful to those who help us and local businesses in Otley area have been very supportive.
"But we are also very conscious of asking others to dig deep so we wanted to do something extra ourselves this year, hence the Kilimanjaro Trek.
"It's often a real eye-opener for our donors to see how far the money goes in Africa and just how much it can help communities achieve."
The couple worked in business and were moved to help after holidays to India and Africa.
When they are not in Tanzania, the couple raise awareness at home by giving presentations to rotary clubs and schools.
The charity has so far built homes and built and equipped schools for disadvantaged, abused, neglected and orphaned children.
Among its other successes is a HIV/Aids awareness, testing and counselling programme which has been set up for the people of a remote mountain village.
For more information about the charity visit helping africa100.com.
12:20pm Saturday 3rd May 2008
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