A brother and sister are to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, with half the money they raise to benefit East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Ian and Rachel Dines, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, will be scaling the 5,895m peak, in Tanzania, in memory of their brother Stuart, who died in a road traffic collision whilst on a ski trip with his school in Germany, aged just 14.
Back in 2007, a year after the tragic accident, Ian, 30, and Rachel, 32, raised money to build the Stuart Dines Library at a school which is part of the Kariandusi School Trust, a charity set up to advance education amongst children in rural Kenya.
This year they are again raising money for the school and whilst in Africa they will be visiting to see how their efforts have helped.
They have also pledged to help children closer to home, though, so half the money will go towards EACH’s nook appeal.
The appeal aims to raise £10 million to transform children’s palliative care across Norfolk, including the building of a new hospice – called the nook.
The nook will be built on a five-acre woodland site in Framingham Earl just south of Norwich and offer services that are either unavailable or extremely limited at its current Norfolk hospice in Quidenham.
Ian said: “We’ve always wanted any money we raise in Stuart’s name to help children. Stuart, although he died young, had a very happy and fulfilled life and we want other children to be supported in ways that will bring them more happiness and joy. Stuart was always smiling and we just want to make others smile, too.”
Ian and Rachel will start their climb on Tuesday, 31 January and expect the challenge will take them five days to complete.
Tal Williams, nook appeal Community Fundraiser, said: “A big thank you to Ian and Rachel for choosing to support the nook appeal. We wish them the very best of luck as they take on this gruelling challenge.”
To show your support for Ian, Rachel and their chosen causes, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Ian-Rachel.
For more information on EACH and the nook appeal go to www.each.org.uk
