Team of five climb Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money for rare disease charity (From Harrow Times)
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Group to climb Africa's highest peak to raise money and awareness for Vasculitis UK
9:27am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Jaber Mohamed
Tara Gami, her friend Nisha Ladhani, their husbands Jitesh and Ashok and Mrs Ladhani’s sister Hiral Lakhman kitted out in their charity hoodies
Five trekkers from Harrow are preparing to climb Africa’s highest mountain to raise money and awareness of a rare circulatory disorder.
Tara Gami, her friend Nisha Ladhani, their husbands Jitesh and Ashok and Mrs Ladhani’s sister Hiral Lakhman will be trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for the charity Vasculitis UK.
Mrs Gami's mother suffers from Vasculitis, a disease which occurs when the blood vessels become inflamed and can cause rashes, ulcers, breathlessness, loss of appetite, weight loss and fever.
There are 10 to 15 new cases a year for every million people in the country and Vasculitis UK supports sufferers of the disease and their families.
Mrs Gami, of Irvine Street in Kenton, said: “We are all really excited at the challenge but very nervous.
“Sadly none of us speaks Swahili – which would be useful when we are in Tanzania.
“The aim of the climb is to raise money for research and awareness of the disease and the charity.”
It will take five days for them to reach the top of the mountain and they will be leaving for Africa on the May 31 to start the challenge on June 2.
The group will be walking up Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, at the end of April to prepare for the ascent.
Mrs Ladhani, a housewife with two children, said the group has been training hard to be ready for the climb.
She said: “The training is going really well and I think it’s just mind over matter.
“It’s not going to the easy but if we keep it up we should be fine.”
The group has already raised £670 but hope to reach their target of £5,000 by June.
They will be holding a fundraising event at the Spice Rack Lounge in Stanmore on April 13 at 7pm, with a raffle and the chance to win a signed Arsenal photo, four tickets for a tour of Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium and a studio photo session with ABCreationz.
To find out more and to donate to the group visit www.justgiving.com/MtKiliVasculitis
