Good luck to our Past President, Emma Mullen who this week attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in aid of Southern Area Hospice Services.
After finishing her role as President of Newry Chamber, Emma who is an avid hiker outside of Chamber life, began training for a lifelong dream to climb Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest point in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
After 18 months of training, this week she will leave her favourite Mourne Mountains and Slieve Gullion behind and will begin an 8-day trek to complete the trek.
The mountain is 5,983m high (That’s 10 Slieve Gullions!) and she will hike together with 8 others from Newry and Mourne in temperatures ranging from 27 degrees to -18 degrees at the summit.
Speaking ahead of the challenge, Emma commented:
“I have to pinch myself that I am about to head to Tanzania next week to do this challenge! This has been a dream and now I am within touching distance of that dream coming true and for a charity that means so much to everyone doing this climb.”
“Over the years, the families of the hikers on this expedition, have lost loved ones to terminal illness. And like so many families in our region when faced with this hardship, their families turned to the Southern Area Hospice for support.”
“The work and support of this charity was beyond measure. And in loving memory of those we have lost and to show our gratitude to the Southern Area Hospice, we dedicate this challenge to all of them.”
“Choosing the Hospice for this challenge was an easy decision. Last July, I met with the Hospice team and they explained how the service of the hospice is provided free of charge and how they rely heavily on voluntary donations to be able to provide their care.”
“They needed to fundraise £3.6 million and I committed to bring a group together for this challenge, to raise 1% of that for them, £36,000.”
“Last week, the 9 hikers on this trip raised over £47,500! It is beyond all our expectations! I want to say a huge thank you to our families, our communities, the business community in the Greater Newry Area and everyone who donated money, products and services to make all of this possible!”
Laura Rowntree, Fundraising Officer at the Hospice added:
“We are so thankful to Emma and this wonderful group of people for undertaking this incredible challenge and raising such a fantastic sum of money for their local Hospice. They have all worked very hard to prepare for this trek and to raise as much money as possible for our cause and so on behalf of everyone here at Hospice, we thank them sincerely and wish them safe and happy travels.”
You can donate to Emma, via her JustGiving page below:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emma-mullen2023