“Whatever physical and emotional pain Kilimanjaro might bring, it is insignificant compared to the pain of the children we are helping.”

Joe Hockey

Our own David ‘Kochie’ Koch joined MP Joe Hockey in climbing the world’s highest freestanding mountain.

The inspirational journey took place with the help of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation who have raised more than one million dollars for children's hospitals.

--- View a Mt Kilimanjaro slideshow ---

Video updates

1) DAY 1 - Uploaded 3 August, 2009

2) DAY 2 - Uploaded 4 August, 2009 - blog from Kochie
We are currently 4000m above sea level. The trek has been extremely hard so far. We are slowly approaching the base camp before we summit.

A few of the team are suffering mild altitude sickness with headaches, nausea and lethargy.

The porters and guides keep us together, the true heroes of the mountain.

Kili is now in full sight. The team is holding it together and we are all excited about the final days, but not sure if we'll all make it.

 3) DAY 3 - Uploaded August 5, 2009

4) DAY 4 - Uploaded August 6, 2009

5) Day 5 - Uploaded August 7, 2009 - The Summit!

The walk

Under the guidance of a private adventure group, the cultural experiences and the physical and mental challenges that will be faced and conquered is set to be incredibly rewarding.

Kochie sets off Wednesday, 29 July, and will be gone for ten days, seven of which will be spent walking.

Kochie, Joe Hockey and all the other walkers have been in training for the past few months as the trails demand a sound level of fitness and an ability to acclimatise.

Their regime has included regular gym sessions and five hour walks to build endurance.

The Mountain

   + Located in northern Tanzania, it is of the highest volcano outside South America.

   + Kilimanjaro rises 5km above a base which is 60km in diameter.

   + Despite being three degrees south of the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro has numerous glaciers. Since 1912, it appears Mount Kilimanjaro has lost in excess of 75% of its ice cover. At projected rates the ice could be lost forever by 2015–2020.

The reason

  [IMG3 L] + The trek is known as the Ultimate Burn is aimed at raising $1 million for kids around the country.+ Kochie was invited on the trip by Joe Hockey – a long time supporter of Humpty Dumpty Foundation.

   + The aim of the trek is to raise money for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, which supports children’s hospitals around the country and in East Timor.

More info
Humpty Dumpty Foundation – Humpty’s Mountain
Support Kochie now - direct link to Kochie's support page