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Buncrana Gardai take on
Kilimanjaro
21.07.11
TWO Gardai from
Buncrana are in training for a gruelling charity
climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
Sergeant Danny Devlin and Garda Gerry Fee will join
nine other Garda members of the International Police
Association for the challenge on August 19.
They hope to raise a combined €20,000 for the Irish
Cancer Society, the RNLI lifeboats and the
Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, Crumlin.
Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in
the world at some 19,340ft high. Letterkenny-born
Sgt Devlin explained that the 11 Garda climbers are
paying their own way with all monies raised going to
the three chosen charities. |
And the well-known
local officer has already trimmed up significantly
ahead of the trip.
"I do a lot of hill walking, having climbed Ben
Nevis last year and scaled most of the highest peaks
in this country," he said, adding that he also
climbed Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo, this week as part
of the preparations.
"I felt that Kilimanjaro will be a once in a
lifetime opportunity and also an opportunity to
raise much need funds for the three charities which
are primarily involved in the saving of lives," he
said.
Meanwhile, fellow Buncrana-based officer, Gerry Fee,
has three years’ service in An Garda Siochana. He is
a native of Leitrim and his main interests are water
sports and cycling. He is taking on Kilimanjaro
primarily "for the experience". |
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Buncrana Garda Sergeant Danny Devlin
who is limbering up to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in
August. |
Fundraising for the
brave climb has already started with various events
to support the cause at different locations around
the country.
The 11-strong team will start their climb on Friday,
August 19 and will spend the following six days
travelling from the tropical rainforests at the
bottom of the mountain to the glaciers at the top,
camping out at the various base camps along the
chosen route. They expect temperatures to drop below
minus 20 degrees.
The nine other team members are Gardai Brendan Tighe,
a native of Mayo who is attached to Harcourt Square;
Liam Dowd attached to Ballynacargy; Michael Devlin,
Monaghan Garda station; Gerard Griffin, Waterford
Garda station and a native of Limerick; Liz Bugler,
Douglas Garda Station and a native of Cork; John Joe
Rowland from Letterkenny who has recently retired
from An Garda Siochana; Joy Treacy, Dublin and a
native of Carlow; Garry Stack who works at Ennis
Garda Station and who is originally from Limerick
and Kerry native Sheila Griffin who works at
Watercourse Road
Sgt Devlin, who also enjoys running and ten-pin
bowling, said the team was under no illusion about
the challenge that lies ahead. They plan to spend
four and a half days scaling the mountain and one
and a half descending. Altitude sickness will be
their main obstacle, he says.
"If anyone wishes to contribute to this fundraising
challenge, they can contact any of the climbing
team," he added. |
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