Jed bound for roof of Africa on million pound cancer mission

Carnoustie firefighter Jed Smith is set to reach new heights in his bid to raise a million pounds for cancer research.

The Angus 23-year-old is bidding to reach the roof of Africa as he travels to Kilimanjaro in the latest stage of his personal cancer mission to hit his fundraising total.

Jed, who is based at Dundee’s Macalpine Road station, will travel to Tanzania this weekend to begin preparations for the assault on the peak over nine days with a fully-qualified team from mountaineering company Jagged Globe.

The once-in-a-lifetime challenge is the latest in a list of events Jed has already taken part in, or has yet to tackle as part of the fundraising journey.

He has already completed a marathon and half-marathon this year, as well as cycling the challenging North Coast 500 tourist route around the north coast of Scotland, taking in the magnificent Applecross Pass and John o’ Groats.

Jed’s decision to begin his fundraising marathon came last year after his mother Diane was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in 2016, following the discovery of breast cancer in 2013.

The Kili climb and North Coast 500 were early ambitions of his mammoth fundraising mission and the Munros are also in his sights.

He also hopes to get out and about to speak to people about what he is doing and the reasons behind his ambition to raise a million.

“I also want to encourage people to check themselves.

“In both cases my mum’s cancer was caught early and she’s been able to get over it,” he said.

Jed’s Justgiving page is at bit.ly/2jtldvi.

Jed Smith is heading off to climb Kilimanjaro.