Libby and Phillippa Stubbs of British Garden Centres (BGC) have returned from Tanzania having successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, as part of a 23-strong team of horticultural industry professionals raising money for Greenfingers Charity
The mother and daughter duo are now making a final appeal to the trade to help them smash their £50,000 fundraising target, money that will pay for the Kilimanjaro Garden, a new therapeutic outdoor space at Naomi House & Jacksplace Hospice in Winchester.
The team, accompanied by Dr Charlotte, spent seven days on the mountain tackling the Lemosho route, which is widely regarded as the most scenic approach to the summit. They climbed through rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert, contending with altitude sickness, exhaustion, and temperatures well below zero. On the final morning, the group set off before dawn, reaching Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres just in time to watch the sun rise over Africa. For Phillippa, it was also an exciting challenge to mark her 50th birthday.
The funds raised will transform a tired paved area at Naomi House & Jacksplace into a fully accessible sensory garden for seriously ill children, young adults, and their families.
Phillippa Stubbs, director at British Garden Centres, said: “This mountain threw everything at us from altitude, exhaustion, freezing temperatures in the middle of the night. But none of that compares to what the families at Naomi House face every single day. If we can give them somewhere beautiful to breathe, somewhere peaceful to just be together, then every blister was worth it. This was a challenge to celebrate my 50th birthday and standing on that summit as the sun came up, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. Now we just need to finish what we started and get this garden built and change lives for the children and their families in the hospice.”
Libby Stubbs, events manager at British Garden Centres, added: “When you’re exhausted and struggling to breathe at 5,000 metres in the dark, you think about why you’re there. We were there for children who don’t get to choose their challenges. That thought got me to the top. The mountain was brutal, but it also put everything into perspective. We get to go home and recover. The families at Naomi House don’t have that luxury. If this garden gives them one moment of peace, every step was worth it.”
The pair thanked sponsors Smart Garden Products, Westland Horticulture, Troo and Sylvester Keal for their generous support, and are asking the industry for one final push to hit their target of £50,000. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/page/bgcclimbkili26
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