Garstang women to cycle from Kilimanjaro to Indian Ocean for charities

Four women from Garstang are preparing for the challenge of a lifetime - cycling from the foothills of Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean.

The ‘Kilimanjaro to Coast’ challenge involves cycling 340 kilometres over six days, taking the cyclists through coffee, banana and wheat plantations, Maasai villages and savannah, travelling on tracks and dirt roads.

The group, consisting of sisters Ann Boardman and Helen Hesketh, and friends Sammy Hogarth and Em Hunter, are fundraising for Stroke Association and St John’s Hospice, two charities close to all of their hearts.

The adventure begins on September 1, when they fly out to Kilimanjaro.

Ann said: “We saw this challenge online and it looked so exciting.

“We have fully taken on the costs of the trip ourselves. This is going to be a once in a lifetime experience for us all, and we’re grateful to be able to support our chosen charities while we do it.”

While Ann and Sammy have taken part in challenging events before, including marathons, triathlons, Keswick to Barrow and London to Paris, Em and Helen are not so experienced.

Helen said: “Before training for the Kilimanjaro to Coast, I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was 12.

“I’m looking forward to facing this challenge with my sister and such good friends. We’ve been putting in so much effort to training and fundraising, and we’re really hopeful we can give something back to two charities that mean so much to us.”

St John’s Hospice provides expert palliative and end of life care in North Lancashire, the South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire, in the Hospice and in patients’ homes. This year it celebrates its 40th anniversary, and has been open every minute of every day since it opened in 1986.

The Stroke Association’s mission is to support people as they rebuild their lives after a stroke. It provides specialist support, funds research and campaigns to help people affected by stroke get the best care and support, to live the best life they can.

The group have already raised £7v000.

Donations can be made at: https://gvwhl.com/JVUMB