Farmer climbs Kilimanjaro for charity (From Somerset County Gazette)
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Farmer climbs Kilimanjaro for charity
6:30am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in West Somerset
By Hannah Green
James Hawthorne is pictured in the middle wearing a red jacket and black hat with his fellow trekkers at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
A FARMER from Bishops Lydeard reached new heights after trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.
James Hawthorne, 45, was one of a team of seven from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) who completed the six-day challenge in aid of Farm Africa’s Africa 100 Appeal, which aims to help African farmers grow their own food.
The group had to deal with oxygen-thin air due to the altitude and freezing conditions.
James said: “It was harder than I thought it was going to be, not physically but because of the altitude, but it was a great trip.
“The thing that really made it for me was the couple of days we spent at a Farm Africa project in a small village beforehand, which showed what a difference a little bit of help can make. It put it all into perspective.
“People have been very generous and you can still donate until February.”
James has raised more than £700 so far through his website, uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesHawthorne
