Kilimanjaro Sponsored Climb

This June, five intrepid members of staff from Mary Sumner House, are scaling Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Mothers' Union development workers around the world.

Seeing first-hand the escalating needs, the team decided (even paying all their own costs, and using their own annual leave) - to do something to help Mothers' Union funds in the on-going economic downturn.

"Since starting to work for Mothers' Union two years ago", Sarah Jupe explains, "I have been amazed at the commitment volunteer members and our development workers bring to Mothers' Union. It humbles me to see the challenges they face, which have been exacerbated by the financial crisis. I wanted to honour the sacrifices many of them make daily by doing something I have never done before."

Far from being hardened climbers, our team usually work at desks in Mothers' Union's international hub, Mary Sumner House, on a whole range of Mothers' Union operations - from policy consultation with the UN to literacy circles in sub-Saharan Africa. "I think the highest I have ever climbed anything is the stairs in Mary Sumner House" Sarah says. "5,895 metres will be a challenge!"

The team are embarking on the 6-day climb in June. Motivated by seeing first-hand the cuts to programmes funded from Mothers' Union's Overseas Funds, they wanted to help projects around the world, many of which currently have no funding for new or travel to existing work. "A challenge, but I am sure we'll all keep going," Sarah says, "in order to plant a Mothers' Union flag at the top!"

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of tallest mountains in the world, four times the height of Ben NEvis at 5,895 metres. The team hope to achieve the summit in six days. A worthy challenge for an incredibly worthwhile cause.

Get involved
Please support our climbers by either visiting their Just Giving page or downloading a Mothers' Union sponsor form, enabling your friends, family and work colleagues to get in on the action.

To follow their journey (from 4th June), join us on either Twitter or Facebook.

• The climbing team's Just Giving page
• Mothers' Union sponsor form