Wrexham duo including Postie to scale Kilimanjaro

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A DEPUTY headteacher and a postman are braving the heights of Kilimanjaro for a good cause.
Gareth Pierce, deputy headteacher at Prees primary school in Whitchurch and Mark Shenton, a postman for the Gresford and Marford area are climbing the 5,895m summit in June.

Gareth, of Offa, Chirk and Mark of Erw Lwyd, Rhos, decided to take part i
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n the eight-day trek when they turned 40.

Dad of two, Mark, said: "We thought it would be nice to do something memorable and to raise the money."

Mark is collecting funds for the charity Headway - the brain injury association, after his brother Andrew sustained a major head injury during a skiing accident in Bulgaria in December 2007.

"He spent a couple of months in hospital and did not know who we were," said Mark.

"The initial months of his recovery were a very worrying and anxious time for all involved and Headway were able to provide much needed support and advice at this time.

"I'm pleased to say he has now gone back to work but part-time because he still gets very tired."

Gareth is raising money for Hope House Hospice in Oswestry in memory of his father David Llewelyn Pierce who died in 2005 after a long battle with leukaemia.

"Dad was in and out of hospital because he needed dialysis, he lived in Betws-y-Coed," he said.

"I chose the hospice not because he went there but because I have worked with children all my life.

"What the hospice do is amazing."

The pair have a target of £3,350 each to reach with the help of £100 sponsorship from Kronospan in Chirk.

Mark and Gareth will be taking on the highest mountain in Africa with a group of other people.

Mark said: "The trek will begin in the rain forest and cross through many and varied eco-systems before reaching the snow and ice covered peak.

"At these heights altitude sickness can be one of the most difficult problems to overcome."

Despite this Mark said the pair are "excited" to take on the challenge and will be going on a number of walks to prepare themselves for the task.

Donations can be made online at http://www.justgiving.com/markshenton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.justgiving.com/gareth-kilimanjaro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or contact both for further information at kilimanjaro2009@hotmail.co.uk