Hitting the heights hurt

A Wishaw man said the effects of altitude almost cost him his dream of climbing Africa’ s highest mountain.

But 27- year- old Conor Foley battled through and successfully climbed Kilimanjaro, raising thousands of pounds for suicide prevention charity Chris’s House in the process.

Now back home after his mammoth trek, Conor admitted his months training only prepared him in part for the trek.

“We were walking four to six hours and trekking up to 10 miles per day,” said Conor.

“On the third day I really started the feel the effects of the altitude.

“The best way to describe it is like a really bad hangover but there’s nothing you can do about it.

“You are feeling miserable and a sore head but you just have to suck it up and get on with it.

“Before I left I was told that the altitude can affect people in many different ways but, perhaps naively, I thought I would be fine.

“The physical side of the challenge was tough but mentally it was even harder.”

After completing such a huge challenge, Conor rewarded himself with a three- day safari at three different national parks in Africa.

To date Conor, who works as a radiation protection engineer at the Sellafield plant in Cumbria, has raised more than £2100 for Chris’s House with donations still to come in. And he is looking forward to going to the charity’s base to hand over the cash.

Conor added: “It was just me and a guide going up Kilimanjaro and she didn’t speak great English so it was nice to get back down and speak to some people.

“The safaris were superb and it was nice to relax and see some superb wildlife.

“I’ve still got money coming in so I’m delighted with that and if I can get my tally up at £2500 I’ll be delighted.

“Chris’s House have asked me to pop into the base and I’ll be hoping to do so the next time I am back up in Wishaw this weekend.”

You can still sponsor Conor by logging onto www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ conortfoley