Summit to celebrate (From Surrey Comet)

Summit to celebrate

3:53pm Friday 25th May 2007 in

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A pair of intrepid Kingston fitness instructors scaled the highest peak in Africa in treacherous conditions to raise £1,400 for charity.

The duo had to survive the worst conditions in 20 years during a gruelling four-day climb up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895m.

Nic Theaker and James Haslett battled altitude sickness, temperatures that dipped to minus 25 degrees and ice-coated rocks. The final strength-sapping push over two days was completed with hardly any sleep.

"It was a tremendous achievement but it was tough going because the conditions were so bad and you never really know how the altitude sickness will hit you," said Nic, a senior instructor and trainer at the Virgin Active gym in the Bentall Centre.