RAF veteran raises more than £4k with Kilimanjaro climb

Ian Dewar, 57, from Witney, travelled to Tanzania to take on Africa's tallest mountain to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK.

On reaching Tanzania, Mr Dewar and ten strangers met in a hotel at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, each undertaking the challenge for their chosen charities.

Ian Dewar (Image: Blind Veterans UK)

Mr Dewar said: "Our first job was to empty our bags and spread our clothing and equipment out by the hotel pool so the guide could check we had packed all that we needed to make it to the top.

"The temperature would range from 32 degrees Celsius at the bottom of the mountain to a possible minus 20 degrees at the top so it was important we were prepared."

The difficulty of the climb became clear as the group took five and a half days to reach the summit.

Mr Dewar said: "The slower the ascent, the more chance we had of succeeding and not being affected by altitude sickness.

"We walked around eight hours a day, climbing 1,000 metres but then coming back down 500 metres to acclimatise.

"The final climb to the top was the longest day.

"We had a two-hour cat nap and then set off at 11pm and climbed for over eight hours in the dark with head torches to reach the top in time for the sunrise."

Mr Dewar described the hike as physically challenging, especially towards the top where even putting away his sleeping bag left him breathless.

Ian Dewar (centre left) and Norman (centre right) at a fundraising spin group (Image: Blind Veterans UK)

He added: "I have an amazing sense of achievement to have reached the top, both as part of the team and as an individual.

"I left with new friends for life; between us we achieved something great.

"To have raised this money for Blind Veterans UK is the icing on the cake."

Now, just £600 short of his £5,000 fundraising goal, Mr Dewar is asking for support to meet his goal.

Donations can be made via Mr Dewar's Just Giving page. 

Before embarking on the climb, Mr Dewar was part of a local volunteer group during the pandemic, providing assistance to those isolating, where he met a blind veteran named Norman.

Speaking about Norman, Mr Dewar said: "As we got to know Norman, it became apparent that the assistance he had received from Blind Veterans UK since being registered blind in 2013 had made an amazing difference in improving his quality of life.

"Norman joined the Navy at 16 in 1947 and served for nine years. He then had a 27-year career with the police service. He is now 92 and is my inspiration for taking on this challenge for Blind Veterans UK."