Kristopher to climb Kilimanjaro for son

Kristopher Gleave (left) with his Kilimanjaro partner Gareth Marsden

Ethan, 7, battling brain tumour

A BRAVE youngster who is fighting an inoperable brain tumour has inspired his dad to aim high and slim down.

Kristopher Gleave (30) will climb Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain, to raise money for the ward where his seven-year-old son Ethan is being treated.

Kristopher, from Failsworth, a former Our Lady’s RC School pupil, sets off in June with his friend Gareth Marsden, also from Failsworth, for Africa and the 19,340ft climb.

They have already raised £9,000 for the children’s oncology department at the new Manchester Children’s Hospital, where Ethan has been cared for.

And they aim to make it £15,000 with more sponsorship from their companies, family and friends.

Both men are upping their training for the trip by climbing Snowdon in Wales once every two weeks, and regularly tackle the hills above Saddleworth.

Kristopher, a support analyst with Fircroft Engineering of Sale, added: “I’ve lost two stone in weight, and go to the gym four or five times a week.

“We’ve been training for six months and aim to tackle the toughest of the three routes up Kilimanjaro.”

Ethan lives with his mum, Clare Hibbert, in Denton, and his tumour was diagnosed in April, 2008.

Although it is inoperable, his family are delighted that his treatment at the hospital has shrunk the tumour to 5 per cent of its original size.

Ethan has had to endure intensive chemotherapy but won a Little Star award from Cancer Research UK for his bravery.

The hospital is now monitoring Ethan to make sure the tumour does not flare up again.

Kristopher said: “My son being diagnosed turned my world upside down. Having recently climbed Snowdon and Ben Nevis for other charities I have decided to take on this big challenge to try and give something back by raising money for the new hospital, and specifically for the child oncology department where he was treated.”

Gareth’s employers, Nationwide Franking Sense, and Kristopher’s company have both made donations to the charity fund and people can contribute via the website (www.justgiving.com/summit).

He added: “Ethan’s the reason we’re doing this, he’s doing really well, and our companies have been really generous helping us raise money.”