Jerome's Kilimanjaro trek to help charity
Despite his fear of heights, 26-year-old Jerome Forbes is setting out to tackle one of the world's highest mountains for raise money in his mum's memory.
Jerome, of Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, will be raising money for Cancer Research in memory of his mum, Juliet, who died of the disease three years ago, aged 48.
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In May, he will fly to the east African country of Tanzania to join other charity climbers scaling the 5,895m (19,341ft) dormant volcano Kilimanjaro.
Jerome, a security guard, who worked at the London Olympics, has dreamed of climbing the mountain since seeing a programme about it as a child.
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His long-held dream, combined with inspiration from the Olympics and a desire to raise money for charity in his mum's name, have come together and he will make the six-day ascent in May.
He said: "I am afraid of heights, but ever since I saw that David Attenborough programme about the mountain, it has been my dream to climb it.
"It has always been inside me – don't ask me why. Working at the Olympics inspired me, I think.
"I was watching a programme about Kilimanjaro recently with my gran after I had decided to do it.
"I said 'I'm climbing that' and she said 'don't be stupid'. But my family is all behind me, supporting me.
"I watched mum battle against cancer. She always kept smiling and laughing, her spirit was never broken.
"Sometimes I would forget she had cancer because she was so strong. She just carried on with her life like nothing was wrong.
"While she was receiving an aggressive chemotherapy treatment I can remember when her hair started falling out and she asked me to cut it all off. That was one hard moment.
"After shaving off the last patches of hair, mum held up a mirror. She joked and said 'I look like you – bald'. We were cracking up with laughter.
"When she passed away, all those memories kept rolling in my mind, something inside of me burst out a new way of thinking.
"I was thinking life is really short, having no fear.
" I'm pretty fit and I'm going jogging two or three times a week and doing long walks. It will take me about six days to get to the top and a day to get back down.
"I will be camping and going on slow 12-hour walks day and night because my body has to get used to the different altitudes. I will be going to London, where there is an altitude centre for training. By doing this climb I feel I am giving back to Cancer Research."
Jerome, who has a target of £2,500, has already raised more than £300. To sponsor him, visit:
www.justgiving.com/JeromeForbes1308
Watch him on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8U6L_58fm2k
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