When the fundraising group, Cabbies do Kilimanjaro, had to postpone their plans to climb Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro in October 2020, little did they know that their challenge would be on hold for so long.
Finally with a green light to fly to Tanzania, Cabbies Do Kilimanjaro, a fundraising group of London Cab drivers will be flying to Africa in February 2022. Cabbies Daren and John and their cameraman Tim who climbed Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans in 2019 will be joined in 2022 by fellow black cab drivers Lyndsey, Bob, Gary, Sarah, Stuart, and Stella.
Wanting to push themselves even more this time, Daren, John, and Tim are attempting to climb Africa’s two largest mountains. They will start by climbing 4,562 metre Mount Meru and will then be joined by the rest of the cab drivers at the foot of 5,895 metre Mount Kilimanjaro to climb the world’s highest free-standing mountain together, in a huge back-to-back challenge to raise money for special needs and disadvantaged children.
The team recently went for two day’s training in the Peak District under the guidance of Tim King who said, “Climbing Kilimanjaro is an extremely tough challenge! It is impossible to replicate the conditions that we will face, especially the problems associated with high altitude, but the extreme weather conditions during our two days training in the Peak District were certainly challenging. The team coped extremely well, and it became apparent that the Cabbies Do Kilimanjaro team had been putting in lots of hard work and physical training. As training coordinator, the most satisfying aspect was to see not only the physical improvements, but more importantly how the team has developed and bonded together into a ‘well-oiled machine’ supporting one other and showing real concern for the welfare and wellbeing of each other.”
London black cab driver Daren Parr, said, “After lockdown I was three stones heavier than when we climbed Kilimanjaro in 2019 and knowing how difficult the ascent is, I knew that I needed to lose the weight again if I was to give myself a fighting chance of summiting both mountains. I have lost a stone and am working hard, despite an injury to my knee, to get lighter and fitter. Waiting for the travel restrictions to lift has been frustrating but none of the team has lost their passion or dedication to smash this challenge and raise money for special needs and disadvantaged children by supporting the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children and a children’s community project in Tanzania.”
The Cabbies Do Kilimanjaro challenge hopes to raise £7,500 for the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children and £2,500 for a children’s community project in Tanzania. You can follow the cab drivers progress on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/CabbiesdoKilli and donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacquline-parr1
Notes to Editors
Photographs from the training weekend in the Peak District – credit Tim King
About Cabbies do Kilimanjaro
After successfully raising £18,000 for The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans in 2019 by losing 12 stones in weight, getting fit and climbing Kilimanjaro, two of the original ‘Cabbies Do Kilimanjaro’ fundraising group, Daren Parr and John Dillane, put together a much bigger challenge for 2020.
Sadly, the 2020 plans for Daren and John to climb 4,562 metre Mount Meru before being joined by a group of London cab drivers to climb 5,895 metres to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro have been on hold until the pandemic restrictions were lifted.
The Cabbies Do Kilimanjaro team will now travel to Tanzania in February 2022 some eighteen months later than originally planned and is hoping to raise £7,500 for the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children and £2,500 for a children’s community project in Tanzania.
Follow their progress by visiting www.cabbiesdokilimanjaro.com
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jacquline-parr1
About London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children
The London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children arranges days out in the UK, for special needs and disadvantaged children and provides funding to support children who need recreational, technology and mobility equipment.
Founded in 1928, the charity is funded totally through donations and supported by an amazing group of volunteer London Taxi Drivers who give up their time to take the children and their carers on day trips.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron.
