1 Sep 2022
Sue Latimer, an Emergency Medical Technician with London Ambulance Service for 17 years, recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest single free-standing mountain in the world – to fundraise for London’s Air Ambulance Charity.
“I wanted to take my local air ambulance to the highest place I could!” said Sue. “I have worked with the air ambulance employees on previous jobs and wanted to do what I could for the charity.”
This was the first big climb Sue had ever done: “I haven’t done anything like this before, but I went with a really open mind. I’m quite a physical person, but the climb was still physically, emotionally and mentally challenging. But it was also freeing at the same time.”
For six days, Sue and the other climbers trekked for seven hours a day, helping them acclimatise to the height. On the sixth day, at basecamp, they were told to rest and then woken at 23:30 to summit.
“It took us 10 hours to get to Stella Point, which is an hour and a half away from the highest point, Uhuru,” said Sue. “It was a huge push to do that last bit, but we did it! It was absolutely beautiful, with glaciers all around. Although you don’t consider you have to go all the way back down once you’ve reached the top!”
It took Sue and the group five hours to descend back to basecamp where they could rest for an hour. They then further descended to a safer point for another three hours. “It was a full 18 hour day of walking!”
With this amazing feat and demonstration of strength, Sue has raised £1,500 for London’s Air Ambulance Charity, and we are incredibly grateful.
If you’re interested in fundraising for London’s only air ambulance service, get in touch via [email protected].