MAC Surfacing | Tackling Kilimanjaro for Cancer Research UK
Four determined members of the MAC Surfacing team are preparing for the challenge of a lifetime, with the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon.
In June 2023, the climb begins, and a major fundraising operation is underway, with the target of £16,000 set to be raised for Cancer Research UK.
The quest began as the brainchild of MD Marc Copson, a man that is no stranger to charitable gestures, and quickly gained momentum within MAC HQ, gaining attention and support from 3 more members of the team who subsequently signed up for the challenge.
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The climb is in accordance with Ultra Adventures Ltd, and Cancer Research was selected as the chosen beneficiary due to the personal connection to those affected by cancer for all four of the MAC climb team.
Kilimanjaro: What’s in store?
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. Standing 5,895 metres (19,341 ft) above sea level, it is one of the Seven Summits.
Then mountain is the 6th largest from the Earth’s core, and so the sheer scale of the challenge that lies ahead is clear to see.
Here are 5 more Kilimanjaro facts:
- Almost every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and an arctic summit.
- The oldest person ever to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro was 87-year-old Frenchman Valtee Daniel.
- Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again. The most recent activity was about 200 years ago; the last major eruption was 360,000 years ago.
- Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately two-thirds are successful.
- The fasted verified ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro occurred in 2001 when Italian Bruno Brunod summitted Uhuru Peak in 5 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds. The fastest roundtrip was accomplished in 2004, when local guide Simon Mtuy went up and down the mountain in 8:27.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is the world’s largest independent cancer research organization. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man and was formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
Over the last 40 years, cancer survival in the UK has doubled. In the 1970s just 1 in 4 people survived their disease for 10 years or more. Today, 2 in 4 survive. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 patients surviving the disease by 2034.
In the financial year 2021/2022, Cancer Research UK funded research worth £388m.
Ultra Adventures Ltd
Ultra Adventures supports Cancer Research UK by arranging trips across the world so that you can achieve something incredible and raise funds for research into over 200 types of cancer.
Ultra Adventures gives the opportunity to visit Mount Kilimanjaro or Machu Picchu for just a £250 registration fee, as long as you pledge to fundraise for the charity.
To take on an Ultra Adventure, you are expected to raise a minimum of £4,000 per person for Cancer Research UK.
Previous charity efforts
MAC MD Marc Copson is donning his charitable cap once more, with previous endeavours including skydives, boxing and scaling Ben Nevis – a feat that may well prove to be fantastic preparation for this challenge.
Marc told us:
“There’s no doubt this is a huge challenge, but it’s one we’re all committed to conquering for a great charity. Cancer has affected our whole climb team in one way or another, so there are four very personal connections and reasons for wanting to fundraise.
“We’re extremely grateful for donations raised so far, and we appreciate any donations between now and our climb – no matter how small. Everything helps the charity.”
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