Thousands Raised For Giddo’s Gift As Flint Four Take On Kilimanjaro
FOUR adventurers from Flint trekked one of the world’s seven summits in aid of a local charity that supports teenagers and young adults living with cancer.
Shaun England, his daughter Joanna Turner, her husband Jamie Turner, and family friend Katie Kelly, placed the Giddo’s Gift flag on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, following a gruelling four and a half day hike this June.
The Flint four raised a total of £3,300 for Giddo’s Gift – a charity set up in 2018 by local nurse Mandy Giddins following the passing of her son, Jordan Giddins, in 2017.
Jordan underwent intensive treatment which included rounds of chemotherapy, inpatient stays at Alder Hey and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, and a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Beth. Jordan, also known as ‘Giddo’, passed away at age 18 from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a childhood bone cancer.
The family recall how ‘Giddo’ had a gift – making people smile. The charity, which provides gifts, grants and wishes to children and young adults suffering from cancer, was set up to honour Jordan’s selflessness and to keep his memory alive.
Shaun, a friend of the family’s from Flint, wanted to combine his ‘bucket list’ adventure of a lifetime with a feat that would bring joy to others in less fortunate positions.
He said: “Climbing Kilimanjaro was everything we thought it would be. It was the most physically and mentally challenging thing I’ve ever done. We had tears in our eyes when we got to the top. It was really emotional, putting the Giddo’s Gift flag on the summit. But we kept thinking why we were doing it, and that put things into perspective.”
The fundraising total, which includes a donation of £400 from Shaun’s employers, Essity, £400 from his colleagues, £100 from the Royal British Legion in Flint, £350 from a close friend’s food outlet in Tir Prince market, as well as many other generous donations from the community, will help the charity continue their mission of improving the lives of young cancer patients in the North West and North Wales.
The fundraising four came back with “memories of a lifetime” while raising money for a “fantastic local cause.” Shaun said the views of the forest on the Machame Trail the first few days were incredible, followed by a climactic snow-capped summit on day five of the trek. He said: “We were gutted because we couldn’t see as much as we wanted from the top as it was blowing a blizzard, but pictures from the day before showed it was a lovely day. It goes to show how much the weather changes there, and that you really are battling the elements.”
The trip also highlighted to Shaun, aged 62, that anything is possible if you put your mind to it, no matter your age. He said: “I’m in my 60s and I like to see myself as fairly fit, and as far as fitness was concerned it was easy, even the long walks. It was the altitude sickness, loss of appetite, and the lack of sleep that made it hard. I went two days without a solid sleep on the ascent – good job I work shifts!”
Shaun added that the trip’s success was down to teamwork, the support of good local guides – and lots of snacks. Despite the one-and-a-half-day descent that was “brutal on the knees” and being “peppered with 60 or so mosquito bites” from their well-deserved beach holiday in Zanzibar after the trek, the challenge was the “achievement of a lifetime, and all for a good cause.”
He added: “Would I do it again? No. But I do want to thank you everyone who sponsored us to help us reach an amazing total, which we were blown away with. Thank you. It’s incredible.”
Mandy Giddins B.E.M said: “What Shaun and the team have done is incredible. We are truly thankful for their support and dedication. The famous Kilimanjaro flag is now hanging in the office as a reminder of the lengths our wonderful supporters go to in order to raise money for a cause so close to our hearts. Thank you Shaun, Joanna, Jamie and Katie.”