Dan Renton, director in corporate finance and Kate Hayes, director in tax, from Deloitte’s Leeds office.

TWO members of staff from the Leeds office of Deloitte will be scaling new heights when they join a 100-strong group of partners and staff from the business advisory firm to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

Director in corporate finance Dan Renton and Kate Hayes, director in tax, will be among those attempting to climb Africa’s highest peak and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world.

Dan and Kate will endure extreme low temperatures alongside potentially debilitating altitude sickness as they make the gruelling four day climb to the summit, followed by a further two day walk to return to base camp.

The event is expected to raise more than £250,000, which will be donated to Deloitte’s national charity partners Cancer Research UK, Help for Heroes and Children with Leukaemia, as well as the African Rainforest Trust.

Dan Renton said: “Climbing one of the highest mountains in the world is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough challenge, both physically and mentally, but as a team we know we can do it.

“We’ve also got the added motivation of raising funds for charity, which makes us even more determined to succeed. We are very grateful to our friends in the Yorkshire business community who have already sponsored us for over £10,000.”

Now with less than a week to go until they set off for Africa, the duo are training hard.

Kate Hayes said: “Dan and I are extremely focused on ensuring we are fully prepared to conquer Kilimanjaro. Living in Yorkshire, we are very lucky to have the Dales on our doorstep and the Three Peaks in particular have been great for hill training. That said, at roughly 600 metres, these peaks do little to prepare you for the high altitude conditions of Kilimanjaro.

“This will be the biggest challenge of physical and mental endurance that we have undertaken. We are determined to succeed and raise as much money as possible for charity in the process.”

The Mount Kilimanjaro climb is part of Deloitte’s ongoing fundraising efforts, which saw the firm raise £1m in one month for various causes earlier this year.

This was raised through a range of activities, including the inaugural Deloitte Ride Across Britain, which saw 100 partners and employees cycle 1000 miles through strong winds and rain from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

To sponsor Dan and Kate visit http://original.justgiving.com/kate-and-dan

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