Ken Eastwood
Last winter, Adventures Within Reach announced that a group from the U. K. will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this fall as a charity event to raise money for the Barnsley Hospice, an organization that provides compassionate end-of-life care in the South Yorkshire region of England.
We interviewed Ken Eastwood, the trip’s organizer and the Barnsley Council’s Assistant Director, about this impressive group charity event.
AWR: What are some of the most important and special qualities about Barnsley?
Ken Eastwood: Barnsley Hospice provides care and support for hundreds of local people each year. Their main priority is to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients with a life limiting illness, whilst supporting their families during the period of illness and bereavement. As a specialist care provider, the range of skills offered includes pain and symptom management, emotional support, and terminal care at the end of life.
Barnsley Council has a strong history of supporting the Hospice through charitable activities, including walking events over the last couple of years.
AWR: When will the trek take place? Will the whole group (of nearly 30 people!) climb together, or will some of you be spaced out into different groups?
KE: We fly out on 29th September and commence the trek on October 1st, finishing on the 7th. We will all climb together.
AWR: How did the idea come about to combine your climb with a fundraising effort for Barnsley?
KE: Having completed the Trailtrekker*, raising funds for both Oxfam and the Hospice, it seemed logical to make our Kilimanjaro trek a fundraising event. Working in the public sector we’ve all seen first hand the effect of spending cuts and we became aware that the Hospice, which relies very heavily upon charitable donations, had faced a further cut in support from the NHS (National Health Service).
*editor’s note: The Oxfam Trailtrekker is a 62 mile endurance walk that challenges teams to finish the course in roughly 30 hours.
AWR: In addition to your remarkable athletic successes, you’ve also had your fair share of athlete’s injuries, including a recent concern about a serious foot injury. How is that affecting your training?
KE: I injured my foot doing the trail trekker. We walked through the night completing the course through the Yorkshire Dales in 23hrs and 23mins and finishing in 17th position. That was quite an achievement. (see http://bkct.org.uk/2010/11/13/my-challenge-ken-eastwood/ ).
The walk damaged the nerves running through my foot and I developed a painful Morton’s neuroma – a condition reasonably common in women regularly wearing high heels (for which I’ve received my fair share of leg pulling). I was due to have surgery but the appointment came through too close to our trek to be sure of a full recovery, so I’ve deferred that and will grin and bear the discomfort. I’m using orthotics in my boots, which really help, and I have spent a small fortune on different boots and walking shoes to find the right combination to help me manage the condition. I’ll be having the surgery shortly after we complete the trip.
AWR: What is it like to prepare for something like this as a team, instead of just with one or two other companions?
KE: Interesting! On a positive, we’ve had some great times. Some of the fundraising activities included pushing a bed around Barnsley Town centre, taking part in the Mayor’s parade, and packing bags in supermarkets. It’s been interesting to mix with different people and to make new friends.
AWR: Reading through the bios of this team is extremely inspiring! It seems like just about every age range and athletic ability is represented– from seasoned athletes to people whose exercise level is fairly casual and light. What is it like to coordinate everyone’s different abilities as you prepare?
KE: This is interesting. We all seem to have our own motivations for doing this and whilst they may differ, the end result is the same – a tangible desire to take on the challenge and to help a worthwhile cause in the process. Whilst we are a team, I guess you could say we’re each facing personal challenges and dealing with those individually.
AWR: I was delighted to learn that one of your team members is your 15-year-old daughter, Abbey. What inspired her to join the team, and what is it like to train with your daughter?
KE: Abbey has been a fantastic support, selflessly giving of her time helping with various fundraising activities, including bag packs, and dressing up in costume during the bed pushes, etc. I’ve been very pleased to see her enthusiasm and to watch her interact with people of all ages in a variety of settings. I’d say it’s been good for her and she’s definitely had some fun along the way too.
Only a few months ago, Abbey asked if it would be possible to take part in the trek. My friend and our fundraising organizer, Gillian Williams, had suggested it and offered to help her if she decided to take part, as she would have very little time to raise the funds required. After some discussion and reflection, Abbey decided she really wanted to take part.
That was quite difficult for me, to be honest. On the one hand, I was delighted that she wanted to take part, but on the other, that brings added complication and worry and from a selfish perspective. It could have an impact on whether I make the summit or not. Selfish thoughts soon disappeared, of course; it is absolutely fantastic to be doing this together, and I’m so looking forward to sharing the experience with Abbey. I hope we both get to the top– that would just be an awesome father and daughter experience. But either way, this is going to be something we will both remember for a very long time to come.
AWR: What advice would you give to other groups who are considering doing a fundraising effort on this scale? Have you learned anything that you found to be especially valuable during your preparation?
KE: Do it! Life’s too short not to. You will be amazed by the support and generosity of others but you must be prepared to make some personal sacrifices and put some real effort into your activities.
If we haven’t been training we’ve been fundraising (in fact we’ve done way more fundraising than training, if I’m honest). Despite that, my family has been so supportive and giving of their time. My youngest daughter, who will be 8 on the day we fly out of Manchester, has taken such a huge interest in what her dad and sister are doing. She insisted on a sleep-out in a tent in the garden with her Dad so she could understand what it would be like on the trek. Yesterday she appeared with her purse and emptied the money on the table and said, “Here, Daddy, I’d like you to have this for Kilimanjaro!” Delightful.
I’ve met some really wonderful people over the last year or so too. One of our sponsors, for example, is managing a multi-million pound construction project, yet took time out to meet with me and show a genuine interest in what we are doing, and yesterday, he emailed me his well wishes for our trip. There are some really lovely people out there, and I’ve personally taken a lot from observing that.
AWR: There seems to be something very poignant about the fact that your team is willing to endure remarkable mental and physical challenges during this climb, while many of the patients (and caregivers) at Barnsley will be immersed in some of the greatest mental and physical challenges of their lives, too. Is this part of what attracted your team to this challenge?
KE: You’re pretty close with that. I think we all appreciate the challenging nature of the services provided by the Hospice. They have such a fantastic reputation for what they do and it’s so important to ensure that people facing terminal illness receive high quality care and support. How we treat such patients is actually a reflection of society itself.
During our fundraising activities, we’ve talked to a number of relatives and heard some stories that really pull at the heart strings. Without fail, people who have used their services can’t speak highly enough of the facility and its staff. In discussion with others, who have had no experience of Hospices, we’ve found that people generally still care and are happy to lend their support. It is reassuring to know the Hospice is helping others and, ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’
AWR: What have some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of your training been so far– as an individual, or as a team? What do you anticipate will be the most challenging and rewarding aspects of this climb?
KE: My training this year began with a climb of Snowdon in the Snow ( http://bkct.org.uk/2011/02/20/snowdon-in-the-snow/ ). My daughter joined me on that, although she had no intention of doing Kilimanjaro back then. On the way home from Wales, in the dark and torrential rain we had a car accident on the motorway. Thankfully we were both OK but that day out turned out to be way more challenging than we’d envisioned.
We’ve done several different group walks but I don’t think we’ve actually ever all been together as a full team. Some of us have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks on several occasions as training (that’s a tough challenge – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Three_Peaks ). I completed the route with Abbey in July, by far the furthest she’d ever walked. She was exhausted at the finish but her Dad was very proud and confident that she has the stamina, fitness and sheer determination to have a good go at Kilimanjaro.
The most challenging aspects will be dealing with the altitude. That’s not something we can train for, and could affect any of us. We’re doing everything we can to minimize the risks, including taking an extra day on our route to climb high and then descend a little before further climbing, as this technique is well known to aid acclimatization. Getting to the top will obviously be very rewarding, if we are fortunate enough to achieve that. It’s no lesser reward, to be honest, to reflect on the successful organization and relentless hard work towards our target of raising £50,000 for the Hospice.
AWR: For those of us who want to attempt some kind of exhilarating climb in their lifetimes, but lack the confidence to really test our limits — what advice would you share?
KE: I’d encourage everyone mildly interested to give it a go. I really would. Start gently. Walking is such a wonderful activity and you’ll be surprised by how quickly your fitness improves. If you can, join a club or make your own with a few friends. The social side of walking is both satisfying and motivating, and it’s a great remedy to the hectic lives we all lead. I wouldn’t have been setting off to climb Kilimanjaro if I hadn’t gone on that walk with Martin and Dougie last year. I also think it’s helpful to reflect on life’s real priorities. What really matters to you? When you’re in your later years and look back on your life, what will stand out and make you smile?
AWR: What is it, exactly, that stirs our soul when we see a tall peak? Why do humans crave the thrill of the climb so much?
KE: I think it’s just the challenge. That can be one of distance, physical or mental severity. It’s knowing the sense of achievement and satisfaction that follows, too. As many have said before, it’s also because it’s there!
AWR: Where should people go to learn more about your climb, and where can they donate to your fundraiser?
KE: We have our site at www.bkct.org.uk and we hope to be posting updates to the news page (and there’s the map etc). People can show their support by donating online at http://bkct.org.uk/donate/
Barnsley Hospice Website: http://www.barnsleyhospice.org/Home.aspx