Ain’t no mountain high enough
TACKLING KILIMANJAR0 AND SHE WANTS YOU TO JOIN HER
NEWCASTLE woman Judy Dines looked on enviously as she saw her gym colleagues conquering the world’s highest free-standing mountain last year.
Now the 61-year-old, right, is aiming to celebrate her retirement by heading for the top of Kilimanjaro – and she’s encouraging others to join her.
Judy, who lives in Gosforth, is a member of fitness studio elite:Together which last year took a party of 14 to Tanzania for 10 days to walk up Africa’s highest mountain.
She said: “I was jealous of the team that did it last year. I read all about their trip and saw some amazing pictures in both The Chronicle and The Journal.
“I have been wanting to undertake a challenge like this for a while but never had the time due to work commitments.
“I currently manage a team implementing software in manufacturing companies but I will be retiring at the end of the month so Kilimanjaro is a great opportunity for me – and anyone else who fancies a challenge!
“I have always taken part in sport but I got lazy in middle age and my daughter introduced me to elite in 2009 in the very early days of its existence. I am very much fitter, a lot lighter and get lots of pleasure from the varied sessions. I was the first to sign up for Kilimanjaro and I am looking forward to the preparation of the challenge and to the camaraderie of the team – I know that many of the people who went last year still meet up on a regular basis.”
elite:Together founder Paul Alexander, who has studios in Cramlington, Newcastle, Stockton and Manchester, said this year’s challenge is being opened up to non-members, although those signing up will have to participate in elite:Together’s fitness preparation sessions.
People taking part will leave on September 30. The trip is again being run in partnership with Rare Adventures, a Londonbased company that works with charities and businesses.
Paul said: “The cost is £3382 per person but that includes training, travel, food and accommodation.”
Contact elite:Together’s Sophie Hood on 0191 276 7333 (sophiehood@elitetogether.com)