In June this year St Kentigern Hospice Chairman Jim O’Toole will set out on a personal challenge to raise valuable funds for the extension works now underway at the Hospice, however, the challenge has an interesting twist ………

The Hospice is currently carrying out an extensive refurbishment and extension programme of the existing facilities together with the construction of a further four bedrooms for palliative care of cancer patients. The new facilities will include an extended and modernized kitchen for which Jim has undertaken to help raise the necessary funds.

To do so he has taken on the physical and mental challenge of reaching the summit of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, carrying a genuine kitchen sink on his back.

Flintshire businessman Jim took over the voluntary role of Chairman at the St Asaph based hospice in 2017 and knows only too well the pressing need to re-develop and extend the Hospice and to secure the essential funding for its ongoing upkeep.

Jim commented “St Kentigern is currently investing to ensure that the facilities at the Hospice are modernized and extended to meet the increasing palliative care needs of the local community. The new kitchen facilities will be at the centre of the Hospice providing meals for patients and visitors and also to service the new community café”

He added “I’m very much looking forward to the challenge and hopeful that carrying the kitchen sink to the summit will capture the public’s imagination and increase their awareness of the importance of the financial support that will be needed by St Kentigern Hospice well into the future”.

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Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and also the world’s highest free-standing mountain. Located on the Keynan/Tanzanian border it’s a dormant volcano  with three volcanic cones, “Kibo”, “Mawenzi”. The summit at Ulhuru Peak rises to 5,895 metres (19,995 feet)  above sea level.

Jim will be taking the ‘Shira2’ route and aims to reach the mountain summit on the morning of 24^th June. This is the longest route to the summit which should take him 8 days.

Jim will be paying all his expenses for the climb so that all money raised will go to the hospice. The sink has been generously donated by B&Q Rhyl.   Donations will be very welcome and much appreciated; if you would like to give your support please visit:. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jim-otoole

Jim is being supported by The Blue Lion, Cwm who are hosting a quiz week during May in support of Jim’s Challenge.