A PENSIONER battled snow and rain to climb the highest mountain in Africa in six days for charity.
Derek Bird, of Valence Crescent in Witney, flew to Tanzania and climbed to the 5,895-metre summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with an old business colleague.
The retired overseas chemical salesman raised £8,000, which he will donate to the African Children’s Fund, which he volunteers for once a week, and Rainbows- 4Children.
The money was raised through donations from friends who signed his Union Flag, including Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron, who made a contribution.
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Derek’s Union Flag being signed by PM David Cameron.
Mr Bird said: “It is right up there at the top of the activities in my life and it is the most difficult I have ever done.
“I found Mount Snowden quite hard but this was way beyond that.
“When I wake up in the middle of the night I am still on the mountain, I think about it constantly.
“I was never tempted to abandon the climb if the group kept going.”
The chemistry graduate said the money will be spent by the African Children’s Fund on nutritional products and by Rainbows4Children on building schools in Ethiopia.
With five other climbers Mr Bird overcame eight inches of snow, as well as rain that meant they could not always dry their clothes.
Conditions were so bad Mr Bird’s group were told they might have to abandon the climb and that it was “now or never” to try for the summit because satellite information suggested worse weather was on its way. They decided to battle on and managed to reach the summit on the afternoon of February 17.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/DerekBirdClimbsKili
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