On 13 August 2016, Paul Lindsay from our Belfast office, set off on a trek through Uganda and Tanzania to Mount Kilimanjaro, raising money for clean water projects. He was joined by eight other volunteers from Fields of Life, a charity working to provide sustainable community development in East Africa.

Before setting off

For 16 months the volunteers raised funds through many events, including the Stormont 10k Fun Run and 48hr Slieve Donard Climb. Many of the Bank’s people joined in and some of the events were supported by our Give Together and Be At Your Best programs.

On the trek

The nine volunteers trekked for eight days and were led by Ian Taylor, the youngest Irish man to climb Everest. They walked, slept and suffered from altitude sickness all the way before finally reaching the 5,895m summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on day 7.

Thousands raised. Thousands benefit.

At journey’s end, lack of sleep and oxygen were traded for the knowledge that through the generosity of friends, family and colleagues, over 5000 men, women and children will have access to fresh clean drinking water every day. The initial fundraising target was £15,000 but the final tally more than doubled that, at £31,000.

For more information about their work, please visit http://fieldsoflife.org/.