Snooker enthusiast Mike Park is planning to make the biggest break of his career next week.
The 55-year-old founder of the West Cumbria Snooker League is attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a dementia charity.
A continuous learning manager in the nuclear industry Mike, of Maryport, flies out to Moshi in Tanzania later this month.
Although he’s travelling out alone, he will join an open tour group when he arrives and they will have around a dozen porters and guides for company.
The venture has been 18 months in the planning, and the target is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro at almost 20,000ft.
Summit success is just 65 per cent, with altitude sickness accounting for the majority of failures.
The West Cumbria Snooker League, which runs through the summer and is an individual competition, was started by Mike in 2007 and he is the secretary/treasurer.
But snooker has had to take a back seat while he has been training for the attempt to climb Africa’s highest mountain and the fourth highest in the world.
Ahead of the trip he says: “As well as overcoming cancer (twice) my dad suffered from vascular dementia.
“I am raising funds for Dementia UK (now merged with Young Dementia UK), a national charity that aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
“It offers advice and support to families who are living with dementia through its Admiral Nurses, who are registered nurses and dementia experts.
“Training (running and hiking) has gone well with final back-to-back hikes to the top of Scafell Pike and Grassmoor Fell complete.
“I’m looking at all avenues to raise both awareness and donations from the trip and climb which is a self-funded venture.
“Many of us can relate to dementia, through family members and friends with family members, so if this resonates with anyone they can support this cause. I would be extremely grateful for your support.”
Mike has a £2,000 target and has currently raised £1,567. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mike-park6.
For anyone who donates, Mike will be send a link to a YouTube vlogumentary he will produce, sharing his experiences.
