Optometrist conquers Kilimanjaro for Vision Aid Overseas

Thirty years after visiting Tanzania on a trip which would eventually see the creation of Vision Aid Overseas, Aylesbury OO Nat Vaja returned to the country to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the charity.

Vaja, a VAO founder member, had originally decided to climb Kilimanjaro with a group of friends and business colleagues, but decided to try to raise some money for VAO in the process. The seven-day expedition featured two days of climbing before a day of rest and altitude acclimatisation.

Day four saw the group climb to the final camp before the push to the summit just before midnight that night. Vaja said the night climb was by far the most challenging and tiring part of the ascent and saw the group reaching the summit just after daybreak on day five. Donations can be made online at Nat's just giving.com page