Main pic: John Wilkie and fellow expedition members on top of Mount Kilimanjaro this morning.
Letterkenny man John Wilkie has hit a new summit in his fundraising challenge for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Earlier today, the well-known karate sensei reached the top of one of the world’s most gruelling climbs – Mount Kilimanjaro.
He flew out to Tanzania last week where he was joined by mountaineer Jason Black and a group of intrepid climbers for the 5,895m expedition up Africa’s tallest mountain.
“All done and dusted, I got to the summit this morning on Kilimanjaro. It was Awesome,” he told Donegal Daily a short time ago.
John Wilkie and guide dog, Sybil
John surpassed €10,000 after a successful coffee morning last month in the Station House Hotel.
He wanted to mark his 60th year by celebrating his health and supporting an important cause.
In 2015, Johns’s health took a turn for the worse. He was diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Guillan Barre Syndrome (GBS), where the body’s immune system causes damage to the nerves. He was left paralysed and ended up in ICU for 24 hours. However, John always stayed positive. He had a double hip replacement three years ago but after a remarkable recovery, he is reaching new heights in his training for his once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
All money raised from the climb is going towards the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and their work changing lives for people who are blind or visually impaired and families of children with autism. The average cost of training a dog is in the region of €53,000. It costs over €4 million per year to run the organisation, with 85% of income coming through voluntary donations and fundraising.
If you would like to donate, click here: https://kilimanjaro-2023.raisely.com/
