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Fundraisers use University facilities to help their mountain mission

Fundraising former football stars Colin Cooper and Craig Hignett are stopping off at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ in preparation for a massive fundraising trek to Mount Kilimanjaro.

The pair will be joined by Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling as part of a group of intrepid fundraisers who will attempt to reach the 4,895m summit of Africa’s highest mountain in aid of the Finlay Cooper Fund in aid of children’s charities. The Fund was set up by former Middlesbrough, Millwall and Nottingham Forest defender Cooper and his wife Julie in memory of their son, Finlay.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is supporting the mission with training and advice from its Sport Science Service and use of the School of Social Sciences & Law facilities, including an environmental chamber which recreates the adverse climates trekkers can expect during the climb. They are also training at the University using an altitude tent which will allow them to experience air pressures high above sea level.

Former England defender and Middlesbrough youth coach Colin Cooper said: ‘Training is going really well. Everyone is being very supportive of us and we want to thank the University for letting us use these fantastic facilities. The environmental chamber will be really helpful in preparing us for the climate.’

He added: ‘While it will no doubt be an incredible experience, it will be an absolutely massive effort by all those taking part because the altitude makes progress increasingly difficult even for the fittest of people.

‘Our goal is not only to reach the top but to raise as much funds for the children’s charities as we possibly can, so we’re calling on the generosity of football fans and the general public.’

Meanwhile lifelong Hartlepool United fan Jeff Stelling is calling on viewers of his popular Gillette Soccer Saturday show to sponsor him and his fellow trekkers.

Among others joining Jeff Stelling, Colin Cooper and his ex-Middlesbrough team-mate Craig Hignett, are two of the Fund’s trustees, chartered accountant Nick Waites and former Middlesbrough FC commercial manager Graham Fordy. Mark Simpson, Dean of the University’s School of Social Sciences and Law, also signed up to take part after initially getting involved in organising training sessions for the trip.

The group is due to fly out to Africa on June 7 with the aim of reaching the summit on June 14.

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