Dynamic JCB duo Chris and Gavin Dolman are rising to the challenge of scaling Africa's highest mountain as they bid to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro to raise money for a national charity.
Chris, 55, who works for JCB Service at the JCB World Parts Centre, Uttoxeter, and his nephew Gavin, 24, who works at JCB World Headquarters, make their attempt in October.
They will brave extreme temperatures, the threat of debilitating altitude sickness and gruelling 12-hour night treks to reach their goal. And to make the nine-day trek a real family affair, they will be joined by Chris's brothers Wilf, 58, and Lawrence, 56, who is Gavin's dad.
They have already raised £10,000 for their chosen charity UK Asthma, helped by a £250 donation from JCB and £900 raised at a charity evening at JCB's Lakeside Club. JCB Service has also donated £500 worth of JCB branded products, some of which the intrepid Dolmans will wear on their ascent, and some of which will be raffled and auctioned off for the charity.
Chris, who lives in Uttoxeter, said the bid to scale Kilimanjaro started with a call from UK Asthma to Gavin, while he was working as a paediatric nurse at the Queen's Hospital in Burton-on-Trent. Gavin, of Spath, near Uttoxeter, is about to start a further period of study at the University of Warwick to become a chronic asthma specialist.
Chris said: "Gavin suffered badly with his asthma when he was younger and when he was approached by the charity to help raise some money he asked me if I was up for it. I'd run the London and Potteries marathons before for charity and said OK. When he told me we'd be trying to scale Kilimanjaro, I thought 'In for a penny, in for a pound."
A gruelling training regime has included climbing some of the UK's highest peaks, including Snowdon and Scafell Pike, but while the Dolmans feel they are at the height of their fitness, nothing can really prepare them for the possibility of altitude sickness, with symptoms of extreme fatigue, persistent headaches and sickness.
Chris said: "The thought of being at the summit of Africa's highest mountain as the sun rises sends a shiver down my spine. The team would like to say a special thank you to all our wives and families for their special support during our time-consuming training."
