Family taking on Kilimanjaro challenge (From Thisisdorset)
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Family taking on Kilimanjaro challenge
1:00pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in Latest By Emma Walker
From left, Martyn Harler, Nigel Rowell, Paul Harler and Andrew Knight
A WEYMOUTH family will take on an epic challenge for a charity close to their hearts.
Martyn Harler, 39, and three of his relatives will take on Mount Kilimanjaro to get much-needed funds for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.
It comes after Mr Harler’s gran Jean died last year after a long battle with peritoneal cancer.
She spent the last five months of her life being treated by the vital service in Dorchester .
In the same year Mr Harler’s mum Gill was diagnosed with ovarian cancer months before his grandad passed away.
Mr Harler, who lives in Switzerland, will climb alongside his uncle Paul Harler, 52, and cousins Nigel Rowell, 36, and Andrew Knight, 41, for the charity who helped two of their loved ones.
At the peak of their climb Mr Harler will scatter the ashes of his gran and granddad.
He said: “I had been talking to my mum about the Kilimanjaro trip just after the death of my gran.
“So following on the death of my grandad and with the ongoing treatment my mum was receiving I decided that I should do something positive.
“This was the spark to climb Kilimanjaro, in tribute of my grandparents, and for my mum and her ongoing condition.”
Mum Gill, 63, said she was beyond touched at the efforts of her family and those at Weldmar Hospice.
She said: “Weldmar are so important and I don’t know where I would be without them. My family are a great support to me at a time like this, it is difficult having ovarian cancer but they really help me through.
“The day they reach the summit happens to be the anniversary of my mum’s death which is a huge coincidence.
“Every penny goes to the charity as the trip is privately paid for.”
So far the foursome have raised a total of £4,000 but hope to raise even more.
The climb is set to begin on Monday, September 10, the group will reach the summit on Friday, September 14 and return home on the following Monday.
Visit climbkili2012.org to donate and to track the group’s progress.
