No peak too high in quest to help a friend in need

Chris Line and his wife have already run marathons to support Simon Adams, who was diagnosed with the condition two years ago, achieve his goal. And next weekend Mr Line is making the journey to Tanzania to climb the 5895m of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, aiming to contribute £5,000 towards the cause.

To help him train, the 45-year-old climbed Aneto, the highest mountain in the Pyrenees in Spain, in June and has been training in the Pyrenees for the past few weeks. With barely a pause for breath, he will be in training again soon after his Kilimanjaro trek in preparation for a hike up Mont Blanc in June next year and Island Peak at Everest base camp in October.

He said: “I’m a little bit nervous as it’s a very high mountain and altitude sickness prevents many people from getting to the top. I am definitely fit enough - it’s just the altitude that I have to worry about.”

Mr Line and Mr Adams, who used to live in Priors Marston and ran a pub in Southam, played rugby together for ten years. Mr Line and his wife, who together run the Leicester-based firm Helicentre Aviation Ltd, have made the MNDA the company’s chosen charity for the next five years to do as much as they can to contribute towards Mr Adams’ pledge.

He said: “Simon is a very good friend of mine. He moved away but we kept in touch. He is a dear friend who is tragically ill.

“We have got to the point where Simon’s health has deteriorated, so now it’s a case of other people taking on the fundraising baton.”

His three children also know Mr Adams well and the eldest, Jacob, who attends Warwick School, is hoping to organise a fundraising event later this year to join his parents’ efforts.

Mr Line’s Kilimanjaro trip will last ten days - a few of which will be dedicated to aclimatisation, while the remaining six or seven will be spent climbing and coming down the mountain.

People can sponsor him online.

justgiving.co.uk/chrisline11