Daring Rasen doctor ready for challenging climb

A LIVES doctor will be swapping the lanes of Lincolnshire to take on the biggest challenge of his life - climbing Kilimanjaro.
Adventurer Richard Harries EMN-160822-150815001Adventurer Richard Harries EMN-160822-150815001
Adventurer Richard Harries EMN-160822-150815001

Richard Harries is a self-confessed adrenalin junky and is looking forward to scaling Africa’s highest mountain.

“When I retired from full time work in 2010 I created a bucket list and Kilimanjaro was on it,” he said.

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“It is the first time I will have done anything this challenging, so I am looking forward to it and will hopefully also raise money for the LIVES charity.”

Richard is a seasoned marathon runner but decided this challenge needed something extra when it came to training.

So he booked himself on a week-long Bear Grylls extreme survival course in the Highlands of Scotland.

“It was an awesome week, but a gruelling week, very tough,” said Richard.

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“We faced river and gorge crossings, hill climbing and camping out, as well as being taught how to forage for food and find water.

“We were then put on to an island to practice all our new skills.

“There were six of us on the course and we bonded well and worked well as team.”

However, there was one thing the course couldn’t prepare Richard for.

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Standing more than 19,000 feet above sea level, the biggest challenge will be the altitude.

“I never could resist a challenge,” said Richard, who sets off on the 10-day adventure on October 6.

The semi-retired consultant has been volunteering with LIVES for about four years and regularly attends road accidents and other medical emergencies in this area.

In the last year, LIVES responders have attended 22,000 emergencies and it costs more than £1million to fund this vital service.

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“I attend about 40 serious trauma incidents a year, mostly RTCs,” said Richard.

“We use a lot of equipment and it all has to be paid for, so I have set a target of £1,000 to raise for LIVES by climbing Kilimanjaro.

“I have had support from a number of local businesses and Jossals in Market Rasen has a sponsor form.

“I am grateful for any support anyone is able to give.”

To support Richard, call in to Jossals, where payments can be made at the time of sponsoring.

Alternatively, log on to his donation site at www.justgiving.com/Richard Harries2

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