Wednesday, January 30, 2002 :

20 Sligo people to tackle Africa’s highest mountain

CALRY MAN, Pat Harte, is going to Nairobi on March 3 to climb the highest mountain in Africa - all for the cause of the humanitarian organisation, Child Aid.

This isn’t his first time however, for he’ll have made his way to the 19,340 feet Kilimanjaro summit three times in the last three years.

And another Sligo man Gerry Gurhy, Riverstown, is currently fundraising for his climb on June 2 to 14.

Gerry became involved in the project after hearing an interview with Pat Harte on Tommy Marren’s slot on Mid and North West radio. “I was involved in various community projects here in Riverstown, and as a Dept of Agriculture Inspector I’m only too aware of the necessity of rural development both here and elsewhere,” said Gerry.

Child Aid was formed by Mr Harte and two members of the Defence Forces from Cork in 2000. Now as Director of the organisation, speaking to Sligo Weekender he emphasised the cause involved in the climb: “We are building a school in a township in Kenya with the money. We have already built six classrooms with what’s been raised so far.”
“I can’t wait to go back this time and see the difference in the children since we began our efforts two years ago”.

In Nairobi, Sr Kathleen Rooney, a former teacher in the Mercy College in Sligo, works along with Sr Mary Killeen and Fr Pat O’Toole. They are involved in projects such as this to assist the development of communities such as Mukuru.

Seventy-five people have climbed the mountain in the last year. Pat estimates that 20 Sligo people will be involved in the two climbs scheduled for March and June. The financial target for each expedition member is 4000 euro.

The climbers’ flights will go from Dublin airport to Nairobi via Amsterdam. Upon arrival the volunteers will take a nine hour bus journey into Tanzania, to the town of Moshi which will be their base.

“We will pass through rainforests and lunar landscapes before reaching the largest free-standing mountain in the world.

“Conditions are so cold on the mountain we’ll have to wear five layers of clothes during the six-day-long climb”, said Mr Harte.

To date, a sum of over €317,435 (or £250,000) has been collected.