Paralympian Karen Darke and Highland film-makers taking on Kilimanjaro for charities

Paralympic gold medallist Karen Darke and Highland film-makers are among a team taking on Africa's highest mountain to raise funds for mental and physical wellness charities.

They are part of a group of climbers who are set to take on the 5895-metre high peak of Kilimanjaro next week to generate vital money for global charities – 'Voice of Specially Abled People' (VOSAP) and 'World Jenny's Day'.

The charities work to enable, empower and support people with physical and mental challenges to greater wellness.

Former strath resident, Paralympian Karen Darke, now of Inverness, will be using a specially designed 'ICE' tricycle on the ascent.

Joining her will be Highland capital-based film-makers Mike Webster and Sherrill Mason as well as a number of other team members – including Paralympic gold medallist Steve Bate.

Karen, who is taking part in memory of her friend’s teenage daughter who took her own life, said: "When the opportunity to climb Kilimanjaro arose, I felt compelled. I hold memories of how climbing on the top of the world lifts us too… the elevation, the perspective, being present, the team and connectedness.

"In collaboration with global charities VOSAP and WJD (World Jenny's Day, focused on mental health), our very diverse team will fly a flag on top, celebrating diversity, inclusion, the strength of connectedness and nature to support wellbeing and mental health."

The ascent of Kilimanjaro will begin on August 27.

All donations raised by the Kilimanjaro climb will go to the causes. To donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/kilimanjaro-sea-to-summit.

The charity VOSAP works to make the world a more accessible and inclusive place "where specially abled people enjoy equality as human beings, opportunity to excel and contribute based on their abilities and live with dignity and independence."

World Jenny's Day is a mental health charity that uses performance and creative arts to normalise conversation around depression, suicide and their solutions

For more information about VOSAP visit www.voiceofsap.org. Details about World Jenny's Day can be found at https://worldjennysday.com.

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