Graeme's mountain trek

A FORMER Culcheth High School pupil flies out tomorrow (Saturday) to tackle the world’s highest free-standing mountain – Kilimanjaro.
Graeme McIver, 26, will climb Africa’s highest mountain in memory of Culcheth resident Mark Sinclair who died from leukaemia last year, aged 47 – and also to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Graeme – a financial adviser – lived in Culcheth from the age of five, played for Culcheth Athletic FC and was a Scout in the village. He now lives in Walton with his partner, Kirsty.
His parents, Paul and Pat, still live in Culcheth and Mark and his wife, Susan, were family friends.
Now Graeme – with Susan’s support – is raising money for the charity, which raises money for people suffering from blood cancers.
Graeme said: “Although I like to keep fit and play 5-a-side football, I have never taken on a challenge like this.
“But I am training hard, in the gym and outdoors. I’ve done plenty of training walks, including Helvellyn and Scafell Pike. Weather permitting, I will be doing Snowdon as well.
“But to put it in perspective, Snowdon is the highest point in England and Wales at 3,560 ft while Kilimanjaro is 19,341. Apparently only 41 per cent of trekkers actually reach the summit.”
Mark was a director of an advertising agency and he and Susan – a teacher at Twiss Green Primary – have four sons, Josh, Luke, Ben and Adam.
In the first two weeks of fundraising, Graeme raised £3,150 thanks to the generosity of family and friends.
Anyone who would like to offer more help can do so through the website www.virginmoneygiving.com/mciver
Graeme has paid for the trip and all associated costs himself, so every penny raised will go straight to the charity.
Picture: Graeme with Susan Sinclair.