Supporting our Parish

GIFT AID SCHEME

If you are a Tax Payer why not join our Gift Aid Scheme. For every £1 donated through the Gift Aid Scheme 28p can be claimed back from the Tax Office at no extra cost to you. For more information or a form please contact the Parish Office.

KILIMANJARO TRIP

Something different!

Terry, one of our parishioners at St Catherine's, expressed the strong wish to help our church provide access and toilet facilities for the disabled.  This in its turn would form part of our constructing a general gathering area for small group work in the parish.

His solution was the imaginative one of obtaining sponsorship for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa this August 2007.

Terry writes

" In May I received an e mail from  my daughter, who lives in California, asking me if I would like a trip to Tanzania for my sixty seventh birthday and try our luck at climbing Kilimanjaro.  How could I refuse?

"  After all the preparation i.e. vaccinations, visas, getting fit etc I set off on my trip to meet my daughter Nicola and her husband Roy in Africa.

"  I arrived at Arusha airport after what seemed a long flight from the UK via Amsterdam & Nairobi.  I was picked up by people from the Springlands Hotel in Moshi which was to be our base for a couple of nights before heading off on the Trek.  We met our local guides and the other Westerners who were in our party, all feeling a little apprehensive.

"  After breakfast at the hotel our first day's trek was to drive for about an hour to the Machame Gate, (5,850ft) which is the start of the climb.  After signing in with the National Park authorities and our trek began.  We carried a day pack and the porters carried all the remaining items: our kit bags, tents, tables, chairs, food etc  The paths at this lower level were in great shape; they took us on a winding uphill journey through the tropical rainforest for approx 5 to 6 hrs before we reached the Machame Hut.  The views from this, our first camp at 9,750ft, were fantastic.

"  After good nights sleep we started out at 8am and walked amongst lovely alpine vegetation.  In the distance we could see our first close up of the snow -capped summit   This was a great day of gradual hiking through fields of heather.    We also begin to notice the first Lobelia, Protea and giant Senecia plants.  A second 5-6hr day brought us to Shira Plateau (12,480)ft.

"  The next day we climbed over a high ridge and descended to Barranco Camp.  Our camping elevation had not changed much from the previous day.  However, we had climbed up to 14,000ft before returning to Barranco Camp at 12,850ft.  This was a day of acclimatisation to high altitudes with the Camp that evening giving us great views to the south over Moshi.

"  Most groups move on to Barafu Camp on this day, but our trekking company believed it was better to spend an extra day at Karanga Valley (13,200ft) to help with acclimatization and so make the summit day easier.   Only 4 hours of walking on this day!

"  The next day we climbed to Barafu Camp at 14,950ft, again only a 4hr climb giving us a rest from lunch to dinner in the evening.  We slept only to midnight when we were woken with hot drinks and put on warm clothing.  Headlights were securely fixed to our headgeaer.

"  The final part of our climb to the summit was planned to coincide with the full moon to give us the length of time we would need to reach the summit.  Yet it can still be very dark with a full moon on a cloudy night!

"  Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano.  It took us approx 5hrs to reach the crater rim to be greeted with the sunrise.  Sunrise on the Crater is an experience to be remembered with the sun rising over the plains of Africa and a diffused light enhancing the nearby glaciers.  It was a fantastic experience!

"  After a cup of hot tea brought to us by the porters we continued along the rim for another hour before reaching the highest point in Africa at 19,240ft.   Phew!  An experience to be remembered!  Half an hour was spent on the top taking in the atmosphere with the customary photographs and congratulations.  Then we headed back, a 4 hour descent to Barafu Camp.

"  At this camp we rested for a few hours and then continued down to Millennium Camp.   It was a great walk with each step downwards bringing more oxygen to our lungs.  Many trekking companies continue immediately to Mweka camp, a further 2,000ft drop, but our company think this is a little too much for the one day.  I must admit we all agreed, having started our day at midnight.

"  The next morning we had a 3 hr walk down to the road, where transport was waiting to take us back to the hotel   It was great to have a lovely shower and then a drink with      our guides.

"  All of it was a fabulous experience, and feel very privileged that I have been able achieve it.  This is one of the reasons I have felt I would like to give something back to the community.  What better to help those who might not be able to make such a climb: the disabled in our Parish and comunity.  I am happy to say that so far we have raised over £1,100.

"  Thank you for all your prayers, good wishes and sponsorship.

"  Terry.