Trek to 'Roof of Africa' raises Dhs200,000 for Angel Appeal in support of seafarers off UAE's east coast

Six members of the 16-strong expedition from Dubai made it to the 5,895 metre summit of the volcano Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania - the highest peak in Africa - to raise funds for the Flying Angel, which goes out to ships anchored off the east coast of the UAE.

"Ascending Kilimanjaro was breathtaking in more ways than one," said the Reverend Stephen Miller, of the Mission to Seafarers, Dubai, who was one of the six to reach the summit. "The views from the summit were unbelievable but breathing difficulties at such a high altitude proved too much for some."

Miller added:

"It was an incredibly challenging six day trek up one of the hardest routes on the mountain. The fourth day saw us all scale a massive 200 metre lava wall which we achieved in great time in spite of the fear of heights among some of the challengers. We also completed a 10 hour trek followed by a five hour rest followed by another 19 hour summit trek - a mentally and physically exhausting two days, all at very high altitude."

The Six members of the expedition to reach the summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 metres) were Kayvan Bahraini, Scott Coombes, Stephen Miller, Robert Desai, Alex Spence and Simon Eadon. Two other members, Kelly Seed and Tony Mansfeild, made it to Stella Point (5,756 metres). The rest - Inga Stevens, Teagan Rowlands, Lea Radcliffe, Alexi Trenouth, Fathima Mohuiddin, Hugo Taylor, Ali Rahbari and Delphine Maillard - made it well above 4,800 metres but suffered from acute mountain sickness.

"We must give special thanks to our guides, especially those assisting in the emergency rapid decent of two climbers," Miller said.

The day after the Kilimanjaro trek, the expedition members were treated to a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area courtesy of the Tanzanian Consul General to Dubai
Since April 2007, The Mission to Seafarers has been operating the Flying Angel out to ships anchored off the east coast of the UAE. She operates seven days a week during daylight hours and services on average 75 seafarers a day - more than 2,000 a month.

The Flying Angel transforms the lives of seafarers by offering email and telephone facilities, a welfare officer to help solve problems, book and DVD libraries, a medical clinic and a place to chat, relax and unwind. The Mission for Seafarers continuously seeks donations to fund the $750-a-day running costs of the Flying Angel.