Pilots are climbing to new heights (From Daily Echo)

Pilots are climbing to new heights

7:42am Tuesday 23rd February 2010 in News

Pilots are climbing to new heights

A GROUP of Hampshire pilots have vowed to take off on a charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro – despite two of the team suffering injuries.

Flybe pilot Paul Kelly, 31, is now facing the gruelling 19,000ft climb, due to start on February 22, with a groin strain while 33-year-old colleague Martin Jarvis will attempt the challenge with a strained knee ligament.

The pair will be joined by fellow Southampton Airport pilots Chris Partridge, 27, from Eastleigh, Dan Sampson, 29, from Hedge End, and Tom Pruess-Jones, 32, from Southampton along with Emily Turner, 35, also from Southampton, who is an air traffic controller at Farnborough Airport.

Paul, from Winchester, who needs an operation on his groin, said: “It is too late now to have the operation before we leave. Although it will be a little painful during the walk, I won’t let it slow me down.”

Martin, who damaged his knee skiing in the Alps, added: “My knee only really hurts when I twist it, so as long as I don’t do any dancing I should be fine.”

The team plan to raise £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support during their five-day fundraiser in Tanzania, Africa. To sponsor the team visit justgiving.com/reachfortheskies.