Kentish Express Ashford & District
Emotions run high on climb
A driver of one of Ashford’s Little and Often buses has returned from a charity fundraising trip that saw him climb Africa’s highest mountain.
John Sabine, 54, who lives in Sandgate, completed the challenging climb of Mount Kilimanjaro last month to raise money for Parkinson’s UK.
Mr Sabine said: “It was one of the best things I have ever done in my life.
“When we got to the crater’s edge, well I can’t even describe the feeling or the emotions. It was like overwhelming euphoria.
“It was the feeling of something special.”
However, Mr Sabine did also admit he struggled reaching the 19,340ft (5,895 metre) summit because it was so tough climbing at that altitude.
“I was nervous about the altitude before I went. The summit altitude was hard, really hard.
“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve done because I kept wanting to sit down but the guide kept getting me up and telling me to carry on.
“There were eight people in the group and only one person didn’t make it but people were being sick. It was so tiring and every muscle was aching.”
Overall, it took Mr Sabine nine hours and 45 minutes to get from the base camp to the summit.
“It’s so inspirational, I would recommend it to anyone but you have to have a good mindset because the altitude is very tough.”
Mr Sabine will be donating the £2,865 he raised for the climb to the charity on Sunday.