The monument is a 110m/360ft hike over about 1/2 mile, so the Coombs would go up and down 5 times to get the 550m/1,800ft day's effort.
In August 2009, Gary and Barbara Coombs of Swindon, Great Britain (UK) will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m or 19,340ft) on the 7-day Machame Route. Gary and Barbara were already planning the adventure of a lifetime but were further inspired by the 2009 Kilimanjaro climb with 9 UK celebrities as they raised over £3 million for the Comic Relief charitable organization.
Gary Coombs on Mt. Snowdon in Wales
“The celebrities’ trek really crystallized our thinking and watching the Red Nose Day extravaganza on 13 March, with its emphasis on that great achievement and the relentless fight against malaria, in the very area we would be visiting, made up our minds and we decided to dedicate our climb to this amazing organization,” said Gary Coombs.
Training
Although it is quite low in elevation and flat where they live, the Coombs go to wherever they can find hills and hike up and down as much as they can.
Packing for Kilimanjaro
During their training, they accumulated 17,000m (55,775ft) vertical height gain walked about 400 miles in the process. That is over 4 times the Kilimanjaro climb in terms of vertical gain.
About TunaHAKI
The TunaHAKI Centre for Development is an arts-based center for street kids in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. TunaHAKI is Swahili for ‘We have the RIGHT’, the right to a better life, the right to learn and grow in a nurturing environment. We are dedicated to providing these children what they have a right to have.
Barbara Coombs training for Kilimanjaro
The Main objective of TunaHAKI Centre for Development it to “FIGHT POVERTY” which is the greatest enemy of the present world.
The Centre provides each child with shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and ensures that each child attends school. Since its inception in 1998, the TunaHAKI Centre has rescued over 100 children from the streets of Moshi.