One of our Evolve plumbers took on the challenge of a lifetime; climbing Africa’s highest mountain to raise money for charity.

Tim Jones, 32, was part of a team of 40 climbers taking part in the Mount Kilimanjaro challenge to raise money for the Steve Prescott Foundation, a charity that supports The Christie Hospital in Manchester and Try Assist.

Tim tells us about his journey…

After I lost my Mum earlier this year, I wanted to do something challenging to raise money for a great cause, and the Mount Kilimanjaro climb was the perfect opportunity.

We spent the first two days of the climb moving through the jungle terrain nearer the base of the mountain. The temperature was quite warm at first, but the higher we climbed, the colder it became and soon we were sleeping in sub-zero temperatures, which made things even more challenging.

It took us seven days in total: five to make it to the top and two to descend. We were lucky to have a lot of support from the local community, with a group of around 180 people helping us along the way.

One of the most memorable moments for me was reaching the summit. I will never forget the feeling of standing at 5,895 meters above sea level, after we all worked so hard during the climb.

Despite the altitude sickness, freezing temperatures and overall exhaustion, the most challenging part of the trip was being away from my wife and son.

It was a physical and emotional challenge, but it was an absolutely brilliant experience. I couldn’t have done it without the support from my family, friends and the team I climbed with.

I’d like to thank everyone who has donated for their generosity, particularly my colleagues at Riverside and Evolve, family and friends who have all been so supportive.

To anyone thinking of doing it in the future, my advice would be to go for it. Make sure you train properly and stay positive. Looking back, this was more of a mental challenge than a physical one!

Tim and his fellow climbers have so far raised an amazing £175,000 for the Steve Prescott Foundation, and donations are still coming in!

If you’d like to show your support, you can visit Tim’s JustGiving page to make a donation.