A CALLINGTON couple are setting off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, along with three friends, in support of Cancer Research UK.

The team, consisting of Hayley Lennox, Martin Clarke, Peter Mills, Ricky Stevens and Simon Allen, will leave in January 2010 and hope to reach the mountain's 5,895 metre summit in the early hours of January 28.

Headed by Henry Stedman, an experienced climber, the trek is scheduled to last ten days, with seven days of climbing.

Their chosen route — the Macheme Route — is a popular route following steep paths through magnificent forests.

It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the south face of Kibo providing superb views of the southern icefields. It will include all the unique ecological zones, forest views and camps that are approximately spaced for acclimatisation.

Four thousand people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro every year, but due to factors including exhaustion and altitude sickness, only 1,400 people actually reach the top.

The team has climbed Mount Snowdon in preparation, as well as running at least 10 miles every weekend and getting as much climbing experience as possible.

With the help of St Mellion Golf and Country Cub, which has given the team free membership to train in their gym, the five enthusiastic climbers hope to achieve their goal and raise plenty of money for Cancer Research at the same time.

Talking of the challenge, Hayley said: ' It's something that Mark and I have wanted to do for ages. When we watched the Comic Relief Kilimanjaro climb, it just spurred us on and made us think "we've really got to do this".

'I am excited, but also pretty nervous.'

The team needs all the donations they can get. Anyone that wishes to support them should to http://www.justgiving.com/kilimanjarotrek01">http://www.justgiving.com/kilimanjarotrek01