All the Latest News from the Team

29/11/07: Since our website has been launched four months ago we have had over 2,000 homepage hits. Naturally the team are checking the site on a regular basis, but the few thousand hits are not due to Irwin and James checking out their photos every chance they get. The team have been promoting their site at every opportunity as it is a great way of communicating how their training, fundraising and challenge is going. SJ McAuley Engineering have also sponsored pens promoting the web address which has been a great help in advertising the site. Please keep visiting on a regular basis, we try and keep the site as up-to-date as possible.

15/11/07: We are pleased to announce that we will be climbing the mountain under the guidance and leadership of the Adventure Alternative team. Also; we can confirm that Saturday 1st November 2008 looks to be the date of departure for Tanzania (flights permitting). Read more about Adventure Alternative in a new section of ‘Our Challenge'.

10/11/07: Irwin, James and Stephen are delighted to welcome Glenn Owens to the Kilimanjaro Challenge Team. Glenn will join us on our trip to Tanzania next autumn and will raise money for a very special cause - the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

Glenn knew that the raising money for the academy is a worthy cause but after wanting to do something for the Hospice for some months, he knew climbing Kilimanjaro would be a golden opportunity.

Glenn and wife Geraldine’s little daughter, Keren, was born on 7th April 2006, with a life-limiting condition called Trisomy 18 (also known as Edwards Syndrome). The last week of Keren’s life with us, was spent in Horizon House (NI Children’s Hospice) which does not receive any government funding but relies solely on the public’s generosity. Since experiencing first-hand what the Children’s Hospice actually does, Glenn has been burdened to do something in return.

Irwin, James and Stephen are 100% behind Glenn and will support him in whatever way they can. Find out more about Glenn’s project and his daughter Keren by checking out their website www.kerenowens.com. Online donation facilities are available.

05/11/07: Members of the Kilimanjaro Challenge Team who are raising money for the BCFC Academy in Kenya have completed the significant milestone of hitting their initial fundraising target of £4,000. This is a great encouragement as there is still one year to go before the climb with several more fundraising events still planned up to Christmas and into 2008. These include coffee mornings, three more bed pushes, a quiz night, crazy golf and the May Day Mountain Challenge (not to mention some events still to be thought off). The team have been overwhelmed by the generosity of all who they’ve come into contact with; at least every single penny is going to the school. Check out the running total on the ‘Fundraising’ page.

Photos of our walk from the Giants Causeway to Ballintoy have been uploaded to the Photo/Video Gallery...

Read all about our adventure last Saturday (20th October) as one of our guests broke their ankle an hour into the Causeway Coast walk. Thankfully it was not more serious; thanks to all who helped and we wish Lorna a speedy recovery. (Check out 'Media Watch' for more details).

Get the comfortable running shoes as out as wee need more helpers. Two more dates have been confirmed for a bed push and collection. Saturday 16th February in Ballymena and Saturday 15th March in Cookstown. More details to follow nearer the time.

We have added a new section to our website called ‘Media Watch’. Here you can read any news articles published in the local news papers regarding our fundraising efforts.

Irwin has been filling in more forms and getting to know the people in the parades commission very well!!! We have been granted a date for another bed push, this time in the town of Coleraine. The bed push and collection will be on Saturday 8th December 07 and no-doubt we’ll all be getting in the Christmas spirit. I hear Irwin is dressing up as Mr Claus! As ever, collectors are needed, so if you are able to help, it would be greatly appreciated. Just give one of the team a call.

A BIG ‘Thank-You’ to all who attended the ‘Coffee Time at Castlehill’ on Saturday 6th October 07 and very generously donated to the BCFC Academy in Kenya. On the day £459 was collected with subsequent donations bringing the total to £509. Thanks also to those who brought scones, cakes and tray bakes; it was very much appreciated. Irwin and James will be having their coffee mornings in the New Year. Many thanks, Stephen.

Our next training walk is a cracker. As it's an A to B walk (no turning back!) we will leave a car at one end to take the drivers back to the other end at the end (if you see what I mean)? Slightly longer but not as difficult as our previous walks it will be a good stamina builder. Varied in beautiful scenery we walk on grass, rock and sandy beach. If the tides in we my have to walk in the water!!! We will be at sea level, on cliff tops, in harbours and through caves. By this time next year we will be able to do this twice in 6 hrs 15 minutes but for now it might take 5hrs in one direction! (Contact me for details if you want to go – Irwin)