Date: Wednesday 21 September 2022
Juan Moore and Jack Evans
Assistant Retail Manager Juan Moore and Technical Sales Consultant Jack Evans will be joined by former Manx Telecom employee Sam Moran for the expedition which is expected to take around eight days.
They are aiming to raise £5,895, the equivalent in pounds to the height of Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa and also the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. Manx Telecom has agreed to donate £1,000 each to both Juan and Jack on successful completion of the climb, with Sam’s current employer Utmost Wealth also promising £1,000 if he reaches the summit.
All keen walkers, the trio have previously taken on mountains around the UK but, says Jack, this doesn’t really compare with the scale of the task before them.
“On Kilimanjaro we will be climbing at a much higher altitude than any of us have been before,” he said. “The surroundings here don't offer much opportunity for altitude training, so we are doing lots of cardio work at the gym, hiking and running to ensure we reach our final goal.”
The team chose to support Isle Listen after learning about the charity through their work and particularly its focus on helping young men who may struggle with their mental health but are reluctant to seek out help.
“As three young lads, it seemed a great opportunity to highlight that good mental health is important to everyone,” said Juan. “We’ve always found walking and physical activity has been helpful to us as individuals and I often compare mental health with a mountain climb: there are lots of ups and downs.”
As part of their fundraising activities and with the support of Manx Telecom, the team has arranged for a StairMaster machine to be in-store at the Manx Telecom shop in Douglas on Saturday 24th September. Here they will be challenging colleagues and customers to help them try and climb the height of Kilimanjaro on the steps and also collecting donations for the cause.
Manx Telecom CEO Gary Lamb said it was inspiring to see employees setting themselves a demanding challenge and using it to raise money for good causes on the Isle of Man. “All our staff understand that as a company Manx Telecom is committed to supporting the local community and it is wonderful to see such enthusiasm in the team,” he commented.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see Juan, Jack and Sam using this opportunity to highlight the need for good mental health – and the support available – for young men. We wish them all the best in their adventure and will be following their progress with great interest.”
The team have set up a JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Kili2022 for donations. They will also be recording and later broadcasting their adventure with the help of eSIMs provided by Manx Telecom’s sister company OV.