Climber prepares to face the music

Ian Taylor at the top of Scafell Pike

A DETERMINED fund-raiser is well on the way to raising £5,000 for a charity trek up Africa’s highest mountain after he sold a treasured vintage guitar.

Former Saddleworth School pupil Ian Taylor (30) will tackle Tanzania’s gruelling 19,340ft Mount Kilimanjaro in January for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The guitar, sold for £800, has now swelled the coffers to the tune of £2,000 — with more on the way.

He said: “It was a re-issue of a 1962 Fender guitar which came out of the California factory in the early 1980s. I sold it on eBay, but it went to a good home, to a collector.”

Ian, who works for a town centre finance company, is now planning a race night at the Rifle Range pub in Chadderton on December 4.

He has gathered Latics and Manchester City memorabilia for raffle prizes as well as donations from local businesses, including Mountain Feet at Rhodes Bank which has also helped him with kit advice and clothing.

Ian has been training on Britain’s highest mountains to get fit for the climb. He has so far been up Snowdon and Scafell Pike and will head to Ben Nevis before Christmas.

To donate, log-on to the website at www.justgiving .com/taylor_v_kilimanjaro .