A COUPLE from Hartley Wintney will be aiming for the peak of Africa’s highest mountain to raise money for charity.

Dom Frost will be joined by his girlfriend Jen Chetwood to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Diabetes UK.

The couple will be setting off on September 21 to undertake the climb which will take them a week to complete

Dom and Jen are experienced mountaineers – last year they conquered Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain, and attempted a climb of Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest mountain, in January this year.

Dom, 28, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, but this has not halted any of his ambitions through life.

He said: “Diabetes has not stopped me from living my life the way I want to, nor has it stopped me from playing the sports I love.

“Mount Kilimanjaro will be no exception.

“It was tough climbing Mount Kenya last year but this will be the ultimate challenge. Summiting Kilimanjaro will show people that living with diabetes shouldn’t restrict you from living the life you want - you just have to plan well.”

Dom added: “Diabetes management will be extremely difficult. We will be walking between 10 to 15 km a day and the most difficult challenge will be overcoming the effects of altitude sickness.

“The lack of oxygen tests everyone who attempts to climb it, but this also poses a unique challenge for someone with diabetes.

“On Mount Kenya I suffered from high blood sugar levels due to the altitude as my body becomes resilient to my medication - it is likely I will suffer from this again.

“Acclimatization is key to ward off the effects of altitude sickness but to ensure my sugar levels don’t spiral out of control, I will have to test my sugars and adjust my insulin injection levels regularly.”

The couple hope to raise £1,500.

Charlotte Harrison-Webb, Diabetes UK regional fundraiser in Hampshire, said: “It’s wonderful that Dom and Jen are raising funds for Diabetes UK. All the money raised will help us to support people living with diabetes in the UK so please give generously.”

To sponsor Dom and Jen, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/dom-jen-climb-kili or go to runningsweetonkenya.com, their blog.