Health risk stops climb (From Witney Gazette)

Health risk stops climb

3:25pm Monday 20th August 2007 in Witney By David Horne

A CHALLENGE to scale Africa's highest mountain turned into an ordeal when the Rev Sarah Jones came down with altitude sickness.

The curate of Ramsden, Finstock, Leafield, and Wilcote was just 500 metres from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro when she had to come down for safety's sake.

Her husband, Chris, also had to give up, an agonising 200 metres short of the 5,895-metre (19,340ft) summit in Tanzania.

Both their sons, 22-year-old Sam and 19-year-old Nathaniel, also succumbed to the nauseating symptoms, which, in severe cases, can lead to death.

They were part of a group of seven family and friends, who joined a trekking party to tackle the snow-capped peak.

Each year it attracts thousands of adventurers, tourists, and charity challenge walkers.

Back at her home in Witney, Sarah, who also works at the town's Windrush Health Centre, said: "It was the most amazing experience, and the fact we did not get to the top does not really bother me.

"But there was no way we could go on.

"When you are vomiting almost every step and almost falling asleep, you have to go back down.

"We were all very well physically prepared for the climb, but you can't prepare for altitude sickness.

"I was so cold at night, and I was just lying in my sleeping bag trying to get my breath."

Failure to reach the summit prevented Sarah from fulfilling one of her dreams for the trip - the first to celebrate Holy Communion on the top of Kilimanjaro.

Another member of their group, 60-year-old Janet Boullin, from Witney, also had to give up after injuring her leg, which is now in plaster.

But Sarah is pleased to have attempted the challenge, and so far has raised £1,200 in sponsorship for Leafield church and the Bethany Project, which runs a children's home in Tanzania.

Husband Chris has so far secured £5,000 for a school project in the east African country.

Son Sam is still collecting sponsors' money for Diabetes UK, in memory of a friend who died from diabetes complications.