Steve — on the roof of Africa

MADE it! Steve Hill at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

Your Chronicle — backing the £100,000 Christie Oldham appeal

ONE of Oldham’s most popular teachers has completed a gruelling trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to boost the Christie At Oldham appeal.

Steve Hill is now back home recovering from the toughest challenge of his life, and looking forward to the start of next term so he can tell his pupils about his adventure.

Children at St Joseph’s School, Shaw, sponsored the have-a-go teacher to scale what is generally accepted as the highest peak in Africa at over 19,000ft.

An inactive volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, stands three miles above the surrounding plains, and despite the five-day climb which sapped all his strength, Mr Hill wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

He said: “The final ascent on day five was extremely arduous and probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. But the climb was also exhilarating and the sense of achievement at the summit was enormous.

“The reward was a spectacular dawn view of the glaciers and ice cliffs of the summit, and across the East African plains far below. To stand on top of a continent was a stunning, unforgettable and quite emotional experience.”

Mr Hill, the school’s 37-year-old deputy head, stuck to a strict training regime to boost his fitness before the organised trek.

On his return to school, Mr Hill will paint a picture of his adventure for his pupils who will hear of the winding paths and pine plantations, the glaciers and ice cliffs, and the jagged peaks and spectacular sunrises which marked his way to the summit.

The charity trekking tutor funded his own trip, so all the money he collects in sponsorship will go to the appeal.

The proceeds so far stand at £2,500, but he hopes to boost it by another £500 with more fund-raising ideas.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me for their support, with a very special mention to my year six class and the parents and staff at St Joseph’s who were fantastic in their fund-raising efforts and who encouraged and supported me throughout.”

He also thanked Oldham Community Leisure for free gym membership to help with his training.

Any late sponsors can still make a donation through www.justgiving.com/stephenhill3