NEREC Ltd business development and marketing manager Ross Skene has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising more than £3,400 for the student mental health charity Student Minds as part of the challenge.
Ross reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres above sea level, on 5 September following months of preparation and fundraising. The challenge combined a personal ambition to climb Africa’s highest mountain with an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for a cause supporting students and young people.
Student Minds works to ensure no student is held back by their mental health, providing peer-led programmes, campaigns and resources to help students access support and look after their mental health.
The challenge received strong support from Aberdeen-based NEREC, where Ross works as business development and marketing manager. The company helped promote the campaign throughout the year, with colleagues, clients and members of the wider business community getting behind a series of fundraising events and activities.
Ross's fundraising included a charity gig, pub quiz, bingo night, networking event, raffle and cold-water challenge, alongside individual donations and support from local businesses.
The climb followed months of training, including regular hikes across Scotland. While the first stages of the expedition provided opportunities to enjoy the scenery and get to know the rest of the team, the final summit push proved to be a very different experience.
Ross began the summit ascent during the night, climbing through cold, high winds, altitude and exhaustion before reaching Uhuru Peak at around 6.30am.
Ross said: “Reaching the summit was an incredible experience and something I’ll remember for a long time. The final push was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but getting there with members of the team made it even more special.
“What started as a bucket-list challenge became something much bigger because of the support behind the fundraising. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, supported one of the events, bought raffle tickets, donated prizes, shared the campaign or simply checked in and wished me luck.”
Ross has now raised more than £3,462 for Student Minds, surpassing his original £3,380 fundraising target. The campaign will continue following the climb, with donations helping support Student Minds’ work with students across the UK.
The achievement is the latest example of NEREC’s involvement in charitable and community initiatives alongside its work supporting commercial and industrial clients across Scotland.