Rochdale fan Stuart Wildman will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in June, in aid of 'Martin’s Mountain' charity challenge.
Stuart is supporting Martin Hibbert, who is taking on this amazing challenge.
Martin survived the Manchester Arena bomb explosion in 2017, but after sustaining 22 shrapnel wounds, he became paralysed from the waist down.
What happened that night has made Martin determined to turn an act of terror into a force for good, and he is taking on this challenge to raise £1,000,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association.
Martin is leading the challenge and over seven days will face tough terrain, whilst dealing with the cold, altitude and sleeping in the wilderness, all while negotiating the boulder fields and the long climbs on shingle using a special adapted trike which is operated by using only his arms.
Rochdale supporter Stuart, who is a consultant nurse in Major Trauma at Salford Royal, first met Martin 14 days after his injury.
He said: “I met Martin in Salford Royal where I was looking after him, and we formed a really good relationship.
“I saw him at his absolute lowest when he was trying to come to terms with his injury, but from that I also saw his determination and his ability to want to get better, and we have stayed in contact ever since.
“He has never really forgotten what we did for him but, likewise, we’ve never forgotten what Martin does for us. He’s a great advocate for us and what we try to do, and for the NHS.
“He came to me and told me that he’d had an idea for a challenge and asked if would I get involved, and straight away I said that I wanted to be a part of it without even hearing what it was!
“The reason he has chosen Kilimanjaro is that he wants to raise awareness and highlight how difficult it can be living with a spinal injury but that it shouldn’t be. What he has to deal with on a daily basis and the obstacles that he has to overcome is like climbing a mountain, and that’s the significance of why he’s climbing Kilimanjaro. He wants to raise the profile of spinal injury patients, but what can also be achieved by someone with a spinal injury.
“I’ve never climbed a mountain before. I’m really looking forward to it now and I’m excited to get out there. It’ll be tough for all of us individually and and as a team, but we’ll all come together and support each other.”
Martin will be taking a Paralympic torch to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We’ve, also, been informed that Stuart will be taking a Dale flag with him!
Read more about Martin’s story and donate here > https://martinsmountain.org.uk
Good luck Stuart and Martin. Martin, you are inspiration to all of us!