Mark’s summit success

Mark Royle at the summit of Kilimanjaro

Macmillan Have a Good Day appeal
OUTDOOR enthusiast Mark Royle has raked in enough cash with a tough mountaineering challenge to buy two “good days” for Oldham cancer victims.

The 25-year-old fought off tiredness, headaches, loss of appetite and light-headedness caused by altitude sickness to reach the 19,341ft summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

Partnered by his father, Keith (51), the pair were part of an eight-strong team who tackled the climb in late January.

Mark has been busy collecting sponsorship since, and is now ready to hand over £737 to the cancer charity Macmillan’s “Have a Good Day” appeal.

Lift engineer Mark, who lived in Failsworth for 20 years before he moved to Royton and now Rochdale, said: “The trek was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done.

“But seeing the children and people of Africa with nothing, and thinking of all the family members of people suffering from cancer and the pain of losing loved ones, my sore legs, feet, mountain sickness and tiredness doesn’t compare.

“I just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

He added: “It was my dad’s idea. He said he fancied doing it, and as I love rock-climbing and walking I said I would go with him.

“He is probably fitter than me, but he struggled with the summit day.”

Altitude sickness almost forced Keith to turn back, but he persevered, and Mark stayed with him, encouraging him as he battled to make it to the top.

Mark, who has raised money for cancer charities before, said: “My best mate’s mother died from cancer a couple of years ago, and I have an aunt and an uncle with cancer now.

“When I decided to climb Kilimanjaro, I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise some money for a charity that does so much great work, which is the main reason for choosing Macmillan.

“The sense of achievement when all our team made the summit was one of the best moments of my life, and I just hope the money raised can help someone.”

Mark, who said he is indebted to all his sponsors, mainly friends and family, for making it a success, was prompted to donate the money raised to the “Have a Good Day” appeal after reading about it in the Chronicle.

And he said he was delighted it would go to help local people.