A Stirling man ascended Africa’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro earlier this month to lift cash for a males’s psychological well being charity.
Tom Kinsley, of Torbrex, began the hike on Saturday July 2 and reached the 5895m summit – which stands at greater than 4 instances the peak of Ben Nevis (1344m) – within the early hours of Thursday July 7.
Twenty-one-year-old Tom has to this point raised £1920 for the charity Brothers in Arms which goals to cut back the speed of male suicide in Scotland.
He mentioned: “Suicide is the one largest killer of males below the age of 45 within the UK. Brothers in Arms’ technique is about ‘prevention by means of self-management’ utilizing each instruments and data that allow males to handle their very own psychological well being.
“Their app ‘Thrive’ gives free entry to a completely skilled psychological well being coach through their stay teaching programme.
“I've personally struggled with anxiousness for a big a part of my life which has led to poor psychological well being at factors so this charity is near my coronary heart as I understand how essential it's to speak to somebody when you find yourself struggling.”
Tom, a former St Ninians Major and Stirling Excessive pupil, obtained an apprenticeship with BT on leaving faculty which he accomplished in Could 2020 and
now works full time for the corporate.
He funded the journey to Kilimanjaro himself by means of a tour firm and arrange a JustGiving web page final month.
Tom mentioned this week that the ascent of Kilimanjaro was extra of a psychological problem than a bodily one, including: “As soon as I began getting signs of altitude illness it didn’t make me really feel nice bodily, however then having to push your self to proceed climbing into heights the place you knew you'd really feel worse was troublesome.
“The night time time additionally brought on me fairly a bit of tension.
“As soon as the solar goes down it’s freezing and for those who get up in the midst of the night time feeling unwell your selection is to place a number of layers of garments on and exit your tent into the pitch black (the place there's nothing to do) otherwise you’re caught in your tent till you hopefully fall again to sleep.”
To contribute to Tom’s fundraiser go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomkinsleykili2022