Student aims to follow in dad's footsteps by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (From St Helens Star)

Student aims to follow in dad's footsteps by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

9:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in News

STUDENT Jack Galvin has high hopes of following in his dad’s footsteps... all the way up 5,895 metres to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Dad Peter climbed the highest mountain in Africa 36 years ago aged 23 as part of an overland trip to South Africa.

Now Jack is aiming to scale the summit in July to raise cash for Meningitis Research.

The 20-year-old from Eccleston who is currently studying Sports Engineering (BSc) at Sheffield Hallam University said: “When the opportunity arose to climb the mountain, my first thought was, ‘I want to do this just like my dad’ and what a great charity to raise money for”.

Peter added: “I wanted Jack to do this to share my experience and hopefully like me, will have a wonderful memory.”

Jack is aiming to raise £4,000 by June and is currently arranging a variety of events He told the Star: “In today’s climate, raising money is very challenging and that’s why I’m asking the people of St Helens to get behind me.”

So far Jack has received a donation from the customers of the Skipton Building Society in Southport, where Mum, Carol, is the branch manager.

The branch held a raffle which raised £322 which helped Jack kickstart his fundraising efforts.

His gran Rita Plunkett, is also getting in on the act by arranging two events: A choral evening in St Julies’ Church, Eccleston, on April 17 where St Julies School children, local teenagers, well known local soprano Gaynor Connor with St Helens’ own Celebration Gospel Choir singing.

And an Afternoon Tea with special guests in St Julies Church Hall on May 12.

Tickets for these events are on sale at £8 and £10 respectively, and are available by calling 01744 757203 or 01744 737072 OR you can donate by texting galv92 plus your donation to 70070.