Andy Nolan, formerly from Charleville, and whose grandparents came from Mallow, will join a colleague, Eoin Boyce, next October in a climb of Kilimanjaro in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. 38 year old Andy and 48 year old Eoin work at Analog Devices in Raheen, Limerick, and both said they wanted to complete an endurance feat that would raise money for the ICS. Speaking this week, Andy said, “I took part in a shave and dye local event last December and raised nearly €1,000, so this got us thinking that if we pushed the boat out and completed something a little different (Kiliman-jaro), then we would stand a good chance of raising as much money as possible.”
Neither Andy nor Eoin have any real hiking or trekking experience, and both also have a fear of heights, which should make climbing the highest mountain in Africa an interesting experience! “Cancer really does affect everyone in some way, shape or form,” said Andy. “I don’t think there is anyone in Ireland who does not know someone who has suffered from cancer at some point, or has seen the effects that cancer has on someone’s family or friends.”
Andy and Eoin have felt these effects on a personal level, with uncles, friends, siblings and grandfathers who have fought various types of cancer, most recently Eoin’s father who passed away from cancer 18 months ago. “This trek is about doing a little extra, pushing physical boundaries in the hope that people will donate to a very worthy cause and organisation.  We will be taking the Machame route, also known as the ‘Whiskey’ route. It’s regarded as the most popular route on Kilimanjaro.”
Machame’s draw is in its scenic beauty. However, the trail is considered quite difficult, very steep and challenging, and not for the faint-hearted. The Machame Route is approximately 62 km/37 miles from gate to gate. At the summit, Uhuru Point, night-time temperatures can range between +20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius). Due to Mount Kiliman-jaro’s great height, the mountain creates its own weather. You are above the clouds, after all! As the climb is on in October, it will require Andy and Eoin to undertake extensive preparation and training in the 9 months ahead, and they ask that you try and dig deep to support this very worthy cause if you can!!!
The direct link is : https://www.gofundme.com/eoin-andy-kilimanjaro-trek-icc.
Useful trivia: Every year, approximately 25,000 people climb the mountain using various routes to the summit.  It’s the tallest free-standing mountain in the world/the highest point in Africa. It has a 66% summit success rate on average, with several thousand who don’t make it due to altitude sickness, and on average 10 people die per annum climbing Kilimanjaro.
Should you have any other queries, please don’t hesitate to ask. Basically we want to raise as much money as possible by completing this event for the ICS.