Trekker bids to reach for skies (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Trekker bids to reach for skies

3:20pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

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Cjarity trekker David Yates is gearing himself up to scale Africa’s highest mountain to raise money for a cause close to his heart.

Mr Yates, 25, of Lowden Avenue, Chippenham, will attempt to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro next weekend in a bid to raise more than £6,000 for Kidney Research UK.

He was spurred on to make the attempt after his mother Hazel donated a kidney to his sister Jenny Jackson, 28, who suffers from the kidney condition glomerulonephritis, three years ago.

He said: “Kidney diseases affect so many people, but few people know about the diseases or the brilliant work of the charity.

“Jenny has suffered with the condition since she was 13 and it was controlled by medication until she was about 25. Her body started to reject the medication and the only way forward was for her to have a kidney transplant.

“Luckily my mum had a good match and donated one of her kidneys to Jenny.

“The charity do such great work and they don’t get the recognition that they deserve.”

Mr Yates and friend Neil Tilling will join 20 other people for the seven day trek, which will take them through the sweltering ground temperatures to a freezing minus 40 degrees at the summit.

Mr Yates, who works for a pharmaceutical company, has been making regular expeditions to the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia in a bid to prepare himself for the challenge.

He said: “I play for an amateur rugby team and so my fitness level is quite good and I also ran the London Marathon two years ago and I enjoy keeping fit.

“I think the biggest thing to get your head around, besides the sheer length of the journey, is starting the trek in shorts and a T-shirt and ending it in thermals.

“I am just hoping to raise money and much needed awareness of this great charity.”

Mr Yates has already raised nearly £3,000 in sponsorship through his Internet site.

Anyone wishing to sponsor him can donate at www.justgiving.com/davidyates

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