An inspirational academic has raised more than £1,700 for Scotland’s national children’s charity by conquering Africa’s tallest mountain.
Motivated by an upcoming milestone birthday, Dr Eric Baumgartner from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) was inspired to take on Mount Kilimanjaro for Children First after reading an interview with chief executive Mary Glasgow last year.
Children First stands up for children, keeps them safe and supports them to recover from trauma and abuse through national and local services. Children First’s cause was close to Eric’s heart due to his own experiences of spending time in a children’s home in Germany as a teenager.
Eric reflected on the journey he had taken, both to climb Kilimanjaro and throughout his life.
Eric said: “The whole experience was absolutely mind-blowing.
“I don’t think the mountains that children who suffer from abuse have to climb really end. That continues whether you are 20 or five or 50. There was something metaphorical about my own journey. You climb on your own. There are support services out there, but the journey you have to do yourself.”
After a rigorous training programme which included early morning gym sessions, long walks with his two dogs and even spending time in the altitude chamber at UWS, Eric set off for Kilimanjaro in early January, taking eight days to reach the summit.
The academic, who lives in Renfrewshire, said one of the biggest challenges was knowing what to take with him. He said: “Climbing a mountain needs preparation and whether you do it emotionally or physically, you need a toolbox, you need to check your gear and what you can and can’t do, where you might need a bit more support.
Getting to the summit was amazing and people say: well done and you think “Wow, I really did this.
“It’s absolutely unreal.”
Congratulating Eric on his momentous achievement, Michelle Supple, director of fundraising, marketing and communications at Children First said: “Everyone at Children First is amazed by Eric’s dedication and determination. It is an extraordinary accomplishment and he is an inspiration to us all.
“Children in Scotland are facing a childhood emergency and Eric’s fundraising efforts will help us protect children and keep them safe.”
Anyone inspired to take on their own challenge for Children First can visit childrenfirst.org.uk or email fundraising@childrenfirst.org.uk.
Eric’s fundraising page is still live and donations can be made by visiting https://ow.ly/Mt4K50VbHr0