Three Hunts friends dribble football to top of Mount Kilimanjaro

THREE friends from Huntingdonshire have kicked, dribbled and volleyed their way to the top of one of the world s tallest mountains, raising �10,000 for charity. Dominic Durose, 31, from Hinchingbrooke, Phillip Malley, 33, from Godmanchester and Simon B

THREE friends from Huntingdonshire have kicked, dribbled and volleyed their way to the top of one of the world's tallest mountains, raising �10,000 for charity.

Dominic Durose, 31, from Hinchingbrooke, Phillip Malley, 33, from Godmanchester and Simon Baker, 32, from Brampton, took just four days to dribble a football to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The team began their challenge on March 14 and along with two Tanzanian guides, made their way along 60 miles of rugged terrain.

Mr Durose, an NHS administrator who admits he was not even that keen on football, said it was a challenging time reaching the summit - a huge 19,344ft (5,896m) above sea level.

He told The Hunts Post: "The first few days were relatively straightforward with few dribbling difficulties, but the summit attempt was something completely different.

"The slope up to the crater rim was incredibly steep, making it difficult to negotiate, let alone dribble with a football.

"Reaching the summit was an intense four hours of concentration, determination and teamwork, but once we made it to Gilman's Point (18,638ft or 5,681m) on the crater rim we dared to believe that our outrageous challenge might just be possible."

The money raised by the three men will be donated to the Kick4Life Appeal, which promotes HIV/AIDS awareness in southern Africa through the use of football. The money will help support HIV education for orphans in Lesotho.

INFORMATION: To make a donation to the trio visit www.justgiving.com/kickitupkili