Senior school student Ailie and her dad Craig recently completed a challenge like no other: reaching the summit of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Over the course of seven days, they trekked through rainforest, rocky paths, and freezing altitudes to reach Uhuru Peak, all while celebrating Ailie’s 14th birthday on the way to the top.
Ailie selflessly used their climb as an opportunity to fundraise for Charlie House, inspiring donations from classmates, friends, and family who followed along with their training and their once-in-a-lifetime adventure from back home. Their original fundraising target was £5,000, but by the time they returned home from their trip, they had more than doubled it, raising over £12,000 to help babies, children, and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across the North-east of Scotland.
We caught up with Ailie at her school, Robert Gordon’s College, to learn more about her challenge and what advice she has for other young people who may be considering taking on a fundraiser of their very own.
Welcome back from your big adventure! Tell us: How was the overall experience?
It was fantastic! Truly such an amazing experience. The people, the culture, and being in a place so different to home were just some of the best parts for me. Some moments of the challenge were really tough, but overall, it was incredible, and I’m so grateful and glad I got the chance to do it.
How did you and your dad prepare for such an epic challenge?
We did a lot of hill walking back home, trying to go out at least a few times per week. One of our longest hikes was 18 miles near Bennachie, and my legs were definitely sore after that! We also did cardio and trained with weighted backpacks. Even practicing packing our bags was part of the preparations, making sure we could pack them quickly and our essentials were easy to reach.
What inspired you to take on this challenge, not just for yourself, but for charity, too?
My dad and I had been talking about taking on Kilimanjaro for quite a while, as it’s something that we’ve always wanted to do! We realised that, with my future school years getting busier, this was the exact right time to go for it. And since Charlie House is such an incredible charity, we thought taking on a challenge would serve as a great opportunity to raise as much as we could for them.
How long did the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro take?
It took seven days in total, five days to get to the top and two to get back down. We could’ve done the descent back down in three, but everyone just wanted to get on with it by then! Going up takes longer because of the changes in altitude… you have to go slowly so your body can adjust. If you go too fast, you’re more likely to get altitude sickness. Coming down, it’s not as much of a problem, so it’s a lot quicker!
What was the weather like during the trip?
It changed a lot at each point we were at. As we got higher, it got a lot colder. We were quite lucky as it only snowed once, so it wasn’t too bad. The first couple of days, walking through the rainforest, it was really sunny. Then, as we got higher, it was a lot colder, around minus 10 near the top.
Were there any moments you’ll never forget?
One night there were monkeys right outside our tents, and that was pretty amazing! The summit hike was also unforgettable. On day 4, we started at midnight and climbed for eight hours straight. It was so tough, but reaching the top made the effort all worth it.
How did it feel to be celebrating your birthday on the mountain?
My birthday was two days before we reached the summit, and that was probably the most challenging day of the climb! But everyone in my group was so supportive and made it really special. This included one of the guides who was thoughtful enough to have made a small Birthday cake for me with the little ingredients we had, which was just lovely.
What was it like reaching the top, and how long did you spend at the summit?
We reached the top at sunrise and were looking out over the top of the clouds. There were glaciers up there too, it was covered in snow, but still sunny. There are actually two points at the top: Stella Point, and then Uhuru Peak, which is the highest. It took about another 45 minutes to get from one to the other. We only stayed at the peak for around five minutes because it was really cold, about minus 10 degrees. But we still managed to get a lovely picture before heading back down.
What happened when you got to the bottom and completed your challenge?
There was a big celebration, including singing and dancing. They had medals and certificates for us, and there was a really nice meal with delicious local food. All of the guides went out of their way to make it a special celebration, just for us.
Who were your biggest supporters?
So many people… we just kept seeing so many lovely messages of support. We didn’t have any phone signal during the trip, but when I got back home, there were loads of messages wishing me well. And most importantly, the guides were amazing, carrying equipment, tents and food, and going out of their way to support us however they could during our trip.
How did it feel to raise over £12,000 when your original goal was £5,000?
We originally set our fundraising target at £5,000, and we were hoping we might reach £8,000, so to go beyond £12,000 is just incredible. It was really unexpected, and we’re so grateful to everyone who made a donation. A lot of people supported us through my school’s social media, as well as my friends and family.
What would you say to other young people thinking of doing a fundraising challenge?
I think it’s 100% worth it as you feel a real sense of pride afterwards. I’d love to inspire people to take on a challenge, especially for charity. No matter what age you are, fundraising is a great thing to do, and to support a cause like Charlie House, that really means a lot to me.
What’s next? Any other challenges in mind?
Me and my dad have been talking about possibly climbing Everest for a while, but I’m not sure… maybe we need a rest first before that!
Inspired to take on your own challenge? Visit the Charlie House website and start your own fundraising adventure today: www.charliehouse.org.uk/support-us/raise-funds
Special thanks to Ailie for graciously sharing her inspiring fundraising story with us and to Robert Gordon’s College for accommodating us during our visits to the school.
