Worthing friends conquer Kilimanjaro in memory of loved ones

Joe Hammond did the climb in memory of his mum, Charlotte who died at St Barnabas House aged 45. He said: “St Barnabas was a lifeline for our family during the most difficult time in Mum’s life, so we wanted to do something meaningful to say thank you. I know Mum would be absolutely beaming with pride.”

Climbing alongside him were his aunt Emma Berkowitz (Charlotte’s sister) and cousins Josh Parsons and Daniel Thomas, making the experience a heartfelt family tribute

They  were also joined by their close friends Selina Redman and her son Eli, who climbed in memory of Selina’s mum, Maureen, as well as her friends Shelley Walker and Nick Rowling, who were all cared for by St Barnabas House.

Selina reflected on the climb to the summit saying “Every step was taken with love, It became a deeply personal tribute to my mum and friends Shelley and Nick. Their courage carried me through the hardest moments. Shelley loved to travel, so we scattered some of her ashes at the summit — it was incredibly moving.”

Thanks to their efforts, £3,356 has been raised so far, helping St Barnabas House continue to providing specialist end-of-life-care care to families across Sussex.

Jayne Todd, Community Fundraising Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Climbing Kilimanjaro is an extraordinary challenge, and we’re so grateful to this courageous team for choosing to support St Barnabas in memory of their loved ones. Their generosity helps us continue providing compassionate care to those who need it most.”

If you feel inspired to take on a monumental challenge to support St Barnabas House, take a look at The Great Wall of China Trek, it’s taking place in October 2026 and is set to be a very special expedition!