The money we raise goes towards the running of one of eight youth clubs all part of the OnSide network. Bolton Lads and Girls Club was the blue print which we are attempting to roll out across the country. Each youth club engages with up to 4000 young people every week, giving them a safe place to develop their skills, learn new ones, meet other young people and generally engage on positive activities.

My Kilimanjaro climbs have raised around £500k so far and hopefully I will have 2 more next year. Anyone interested in helping, hiking or donating can contact me via Donna my PA This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We also bring goods and provisions for a local baby home in Arusha. It's an amazing place which is currently home for about 40 orphaned or abandoned babies. This year we brought out about 15 suitcases full of clothes, nappies, toys, bottles and all manner of other stuff. The home is called Neema House and the do a fantastic job.

The whole Kilimanjaro experience envelopes a lot of people. The hikers themselves have a life changing experience on the mountain....but they also learn about the importance of fundraising for young people who without the youth clubs would have nothing to do and nowhere to go. Helping to change the fortunes of young people often ignites a life long fire in a person to continue doing charitable work. The interaction with our guides and porters on the mountain is also a huge part of the experience. The knowledge that our tips can make such a difference to the families and the gratitude of the team makes everyone feel incredibly privileged, but more than that it makes us all feel part of a huge family on the march....

The KE team on Kilimanjaro is first class. Onex and Elias are two great leaders who make the whole experience complete. They keep us all safe and know exactly how hard to push us all towards the summit. I've been on the mountain 8 times now and to the summit 7....it's an emotional and amazing experience which I recommend to anyone who wants an adventure.

Nick Hopkinson MBE