Mountain challenge for health worker
A PARAMEDIC with two replacement knees is going to complete a lifelong dream of going to Africa and tackling Mount Kilimanjaro.
Jane Sinclair, 62, is undertaking the colossal challenge to raise funds for the Ambulance Staff Charity (TSAC).
The North East Ambulance Service worker will head to Tanzania later this year and will leave Kilimanjaro base camp around September 15.
The feat would be difficult for most people, but Jane is determined to complete her goal despite having a double knee replacement three years ago.
She is taking the challenge seriously and has recently come back from a vigorous training programme which involved walking the length of Offa’s Dyke, which is a total of 177 miles.
“This is a great opportunity for me to support my ambulance family because we all need help at times, just like our patients,” Jane said.
“Visiting East Africa has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager and, this autumn, I’m getting the chance to top the highest free-standing mountain in the whole world at 5,895m. I can’t wait to get there.”
Jane has lived a very active life, previously working as a shepherd with big commercial flocks, firstly in the North East of Scotland then near Guisborough in East Cleveland.
That was followed by seven years as an outdoor pursuits instructor teaching adults and children all about walking and orienteering.
The mother of two also spent eight years as a volunteer with Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.
That fired an interest in patient care and led to her joining the North East Ambulance Service in 2011, in the Carlin How region.
Jane has already been supported by a donation from the Boulby Mine and members of the public. To support her, head to her JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jane-sinclair4