Pals to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity

A pair of intrepid Burnley pals are preparing to hike to the roof of Africa this summer.
Sheikh Ahmed and Jamatul Khan, from Burnley, are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in August. (S)Sheikh Ahmed and Jamatul Khan, from Burnley, are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in August. (S)
Sheikh Ahmed and Jamatul Khan, from Burnley, are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in August. (S)

Sheikh Ahmed and Jamatul Khan will trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in August raising money for Muslim Hands which helps orphans and underprivileged children in Sub-Saharan Africa access education.

Although keen walkers, climbing to the top of the highest mountain in Africa is something completely new to both men.

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Sheikh said: “It is the first time either of us have done anything like this for charity.

“We tend to go walking once a month, but it is generally in the UK in the Lake District, North Wales and we have done Ben Nevis.

“We have also done walking in the French Alps and we climbed Mount Teide on Tenerife which is the highest we have done previously at 12,000ft. That was 23 degrees at the bottom and minus five at the top but Kilimanjaro will be totally different as it is nearly 20,000ft.

“I think we are both excited and nervous at the same time.”

Sheikh added: “I’m a teacher, and the reason we have chosen Muslim Hands is because it helps children back into education which pulled on my heart strings.

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“I have previously done some teaching in Bangladesh and I was amazed at how appreciative the children are about receiving an education. Children over here just take it for granted.

“We have set ourselves an ambitious target of £8,000 but we just want to raise as much money as possible.”

A charity dinner will be held at the Jaipur Restaurant in Albert Road, Colne, on Monday which has donated all the food, staff and service for the event. Tickets are available from the restaurant on 869295 for a minimum donation of £10 each.

You can donate at either www.justgiving.com/jamatul-khan or www.justgiving.com/sheikh-ahmed or make a donation on 70070 by texting: KRJO62 “donation amount”.

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