A team of 28 hikers recently completed a challenging eight-day expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising over £195,000 — with hopes of reaching their £200,000 goal — for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The funds will go towards transforming the hospital’s entrance, creating a more welcoming and less daunting experience for young patients and their families.
We spoke to one of the hikers, David Barnes, managing director of adi Intelligent Buildings, part of engineering firm adi Group, which has supported Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity – its charity of the year – for over two years.
Reflecting on the challenging yet rewarding journey, he said: “It was tough — really tough. To give you an idea, we trekked 47 kilometres over seven days to reach the summit, with a steep descent of 18 kilometres over just two days. The route we took has a 65% success rate, so for all 28 of us to make it to the top was incredible. Almost everyone suffered from altitude sickness at some point, but we kept going, knowing what we were doing this for.”
The group, made up of individuals from various organisations, battled not only the physical demands of the climb but also the mental strain of hiking through five distinct environments, from tropical forests to barren, snow-covered peaks. With days starting as early as 6am and hikes lasting up to nine hours, the team had to balance endurance with the need to acclimatise to the altitude.
“By the time we attempted the final summit push, we’d already had seven days of limited sleep and constant exertion,” Barnes explained.
“We hiked for about three hours to base camp, rested until midnight, and then set off in the dark with our head torches. It took us eight to nine hours to reach the summit and another three to get back to base camp. It was utterly exhausting.”
Despite the physical toll, Barnes emphasised that the real motivator for the team was the cause they were supporting.
He said: “I’ve been incredibly lucky; my children and granddaughter have never had to face serious illness. But I know so many people who haven’t been as fortunate.
“The money we’re raising is going to create a new entrance for Birmingham Children’s Hospital — a bright, welcoming space with a huge glass front. It’s about making a hospital visit a little less scary for children and their families.
“We’re not funding a piece of medical equipment for a select few, as this will benefit every single child who walks through those doors.”
The group was also inspired by a personal connection to the hospital. One of the hikers, a father whose daughter was severely burned in an accident overseas, received heartfelt, handwritten notes from his little girl addressed to each team member.
“That was a powerful moment,” Barnes said. “Knowing we were doing this for kids like her gave us an extra push when things got tough.”
Beyond the fundraising and the physical feat, the bonds formed during the climb have left a lasting impact on the team.
“Most of us didn’t know each other before this,” Barnes added. “But the camaraderie was incredible. Everyone looked out for one another, shared supplies and kept each other going.”
Further supporting the cause, adi Group Founder and Chairman, Alan Lusty, matched the adi team’s donations, doubling their value. As the team inches closer to their £200,000 fundraising target, Barnes hopes their journey will inspire more donations to help transform the hospital entrance and make a tangible difference to the lives of thousands of children and their parents or guardians.
“We’re really grateful to everyone who donated,” Barnes said. “We can’t wait to hit that final fundraising goal and know that every child walking into Birmingham Children’s Hospital will have a brighter, more comforting experience.”
For those interested in supporting the team’s fundraising efforts, donations can still be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/team/bchkili2025
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