Press Releases
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS FOR CHARITY
3rd November 2005
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Keith Kearns and Bill Cottam at the summit. |
MONTHS of hard work and training paid off for Lincoln climber Keith Kearns when he reached the summit of the Matterhorn and helped raise much-needed funds for a local charity.
Keith and his climbing partner Bill Cottam battled the elements to reach the 14,700 ft summit of, what is probably, one of the most famous peaks in the world. Their efforts paid off though when they collected hundreds of pounds of sponsorship money from friends, family and Keith’s colleagues at the Lincoln-based Jackson Building Centres.
The funds will go towards helping to rebuild Fiskerton Village Hall, which was recently destroyed by fire. It’s an appeal close to Bill’s heart, as he lives in the village. The final tally of how much has been raised is not yet known but it is expected to contribute greatly to the rebuilding of the community venue.
“The climb was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life,“ said father-of-three Keith. “But it was well worth it. It was a fantastic experience and a once in a lifetime opportunity; something I will always remember.
“It was very tough… and we almost didn’t make it as heavy snow and bad weather conditions prevented us for climbing for days.”
In fact, the unseasonable heavy snowfalls meant that the two were forced to postpone their climb for five days and were only able to make their attempt a day before they were due to return home.
Their final achievement was the result of much training. The climbers had to be in the peak of fitness before the climb and training involved several visits a week to the gym for months as well as numerous practice runs on indoor climbing walls and outdoor crags.
After the chilly climate in the Swiss Alps, 45-year-old Keith, who works in the timber department of the Lincoln branch of Jackson’s, was given a real warm welcome on his return. Bunting and photographs adorned his house on Skellingthorpe Road in Lincoln and he was welcomed home by wife Kim, sons Hayden and Drew and daughter Jodie.
The climb wasn’t Keith’s first major challenge. A few years ago he tackled Kilimanjaro but a severe case of altitude sickness put pay to his bid to get to the peak. So, after conquering the Matterhorn, Keith feels he’s ready for a second attempt on Kilimanjaro. “I was so disappointed when I didn’t make it to the summit and so I’m planning to climb it again in 2007 – I don’t like to be beaten!”
Keith Kearns and Bill Cottam at the summit.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Jackson Building Centres has 20 branches located in Boston, Chesterfield, Corby, Gainsborough, Grantham, Grimsby, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Newark, Nottingham, Oakham, Scunthorpe, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Spilsby, Stamford, Sutton and Swinton.
Established in 1946, the family controlled builders’ merchants business has a turnover of c £145m and employs over 1,050 people throughout the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
Press contact: Liz Dimitrijevic or Nicola Doughty
Telephone: 01302 368651
Fax: 01302 341735
Email: liz@colbear.co.uk or nicola@colbear.co.uk