News Release

Issued: 09 Sep 2009
At: 11:58
For immediate release

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters Climb Kilimanjaro

On 2 August 2009, two firefighters from Central Fire and Rescue Station
embarked on a journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The
firefighters, Simon Holden and Craig Hallam, were raising money for an
orphanage in Africa.

Simon and Craig climbed over seven hours a day, battling the heat, terrain
and altitude sickness in order to reach the 5895 metre summit in five days,
Craig even completed the entire climb in his full firefighting kit!

Craig Hallam, Firefighter from Central Fire and Rescue Station, White Watch,
said:

"We spent a long time travelling even before we got to the mountain,
but when we got there and started to make our way up, we really
began to feel the effects of what was ahead of us."

"The altitude sickness was pretty bad and there were fleeting moments
where it didn’t look like we would make it but we struggled through
and pushed ourselves to the top. The feeling we got when we reached
the top was that of elation! We had achieved something great and
made it to the highest point in Africa!"

"We would like to thank everyone who made our mission impossible
possible. Your generosity has made a difference to the lives of the
African orphans we helped."

- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

Further Information

Simon Holden and Craig Hallam are both available for interview. Please
contact Corporate Communications on the number below to arrange this.

Contact Information

For more information please contact:
Corporate Communications
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel 0116 287 2241