WORCESTER: The start of 2010 brought some of the worst cold and snow that the UK has seen for a number of years. While the rest of the UK cried out in disappointment, for Carl Arntzen, director of Bosch Thermotechnology at Worcester, Bosch Group, the temperature was the perfect grounding to begin training preparations for his most arduous physical challenge – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mr Arntzen is joining a group of six heating and hot water industry heads all of whom will be doing the five-day 5892m metre climb at the beginning of March to raise money for charity SACRED, South African Children's Resource for Education and Development.
"I have always been into sports and most recently have completed a number of marathons and half-marathons,” said Mr Arntzen.
“When pump manufacturer Grundfos approached me to see if I'd be interested in joining them on their second climb of Mount Kilimanjaro I jumped at the chance. The opportunity to raise money for a good cause, combined with the physical challenge, meant that there was no doubt in my mind that I wasn't going to miss out on the chance to do the climb.”
The climb is a gruelling five-day trek, starting on Monday 8 March. The group will climb for an average of five-six hours a day.
"We have a target of £50000 that we would like to reach,” Mr Arntzen explained. “We are off to a good start but hope that others will recognise that this in an incredible challenge for an extremely worthwhile cause and therefore support us in our fundraising efforts.
“To maximise the fundraising potential, all the costs of the climb are being met by myself and the other climbers involved so all 100% of monies raised will go to the charity, SACRED.
"Watching footage of the celebrities that made the same climb for Sports Relief last year brought home the reality of the challenge as some of them really struggled with exhaustion and the varying altitudes.”
