Africa adventure to repay mountain of gratitude

Then, one day, while on the rowing machine, Richard's world stopped. The next thing he knew, months had passed and he was in a strange place, being looked after by people he didn't know.

He couldn't recognise his daughters and thought they were still six and seven – when they were, in fact, 14 and 16.

His entire short-term memory had disappeared. He had no idea what had happened to him or that he had spent six months in hospital or what the future held.

Richard had suffered a heart attack for no apparent reason. It had starved his brain of oxygen causing permanent damage, leaving him with no short-term memory, physical and mobility difficulties, and visual problems.

"Jessica and Samantha lost their dad that day," says Richard's sister Lesley Hawkin. "They have had to learn to love a new dad."

"I have no memory of it at all," says Richard, now 45. "I don't even remember being in hospital. I thought my children were still little."

After six months in York Hospital, Richard was transferred to the Daniel Yorath House in Garforth, near Leeds, part of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, which specialises in helping people who have suffered neurological injuries.

The trust has developed its own system of brain injury rehabilitation known as the neurobehavioural approach to rehabilitation.

The approach means that clients are encouraged to overcome their problems in a constructive and rewarding way.

They are given as much support as they need, which is gradually reduced so that the person becomes more and more independent.

"Richard's memory is better than it was, although he does ask the same things over again, although he does really know the answer he just needs a bit of help to realise that he does," says Richard's twin brother, Paul.

Richard has made such good progress that he now lives in supported housing in Kippax, near Castleford, with two other men who have suffered brain injuries, where he will be assessed to see if he can live independently.

"It is a very positive step for me," says Richard. "I was always able to look after myself and it is difficult relying on others all the time."

Having witnessed first hand Richard's progress, Paul and Lesley, want to do something to show their appreciation for the help and support Daniel Yorath House had given to Richard during his rehabilitation.

"We want to provide them with the funding that is so urgently required by other clients so that they can continue to receive the same help and support Richard received," said Paul.

In three weeks' time Paul and Lesley will travel to Africa to attempt the trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in the hope that they can raise a minimum of 15,000 in sponsorship and donations for the Yorkshire charity.

"As well as raising money for Daniel Yorath House we felt it would be a good motivator for Richard, to give him something to aim for," says Paul.

However, after a number of smaller practice treks, Paul and Lesley have been forced to take the difficult decision that Richard isn't well enough to take part in the gruelling challenge.

"We realised that it would just be too much," says Paul, who has been in training for the challenge, having never done anything like it before.

Lesley, 48, has recruited friends and colleagues from Askham Grange prison where she is a healthcare worker, to help get her fit.

"I wasn't at all fit, but now I spend everything lunchtime in the gym and going for long walks. Friends have worked out training schedules for me and I feel much better, although I am a little apprehensive of what's to come."

Richard's daughters have been helping to raise money for the ambitious challenge as have family, friends and work colleagues as well as Richard's employer, Turner Vill, in Garforth. In total they have already raised more than 9,000 towards their target.

The family is organising and funding the trip themselves so that every penny raised will go directly to Daniel Yorath House.

Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa standing 5,891.80 metres (19,330ft) high and the trek will take six days to complete, covering 60 miles.

Paul and his sister Lesley will be facing a gruelling 20-hour overland journey to Moshi, Tanzania, and after one day's rest get straight on with the challenge.

They organised the trip independently of any organisation for charities, so that all the funds raised would go directly to the Disabilities Trust.

The brother/sister team will make their way along the Machame route, which is a wilderness route off the main Kilimanjaro tourist trail.

Paul and Lesley have been preparing for the trip by doing a lot of walking and spending two to three hours every couple of days on an exercise machine.

The trek starts in the jungle, where temperatures will be above 35C ,and then finishes at the summit, where they will experience temperatures of below –20C.

"If that wasn't bad enough we also have to contend with altitude sickness and various other tropical nasties," says Paul. "And then there's the camping!"

"They say the older you are and the slower you go the less likely you are to suffer sever altitude sickness," says Lesley.

"I am confident we can do it, although I know there are certain days which look physically and mentally tougher than the others. So long as we don't get altitude sickness I am sure we will make it."

The brother and sister team say they are not hugely competitive, and Richard warns them, with a smile, that if they are they won't make it to the summit.

Despite the tragedy which has struck this family it is clear that sense of humour has helped them to cope.

"I think it has made us closer as a family," says Lesley. "It has been very hard on Richard's daughters but they are getting to know their dad again. They visit him and he goes to visit them at university."

Ann Buckler, the divisional manager of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, said: "We are incredibly grateful for what they are doing. It is wonderful that people take the time to help us in this way.

"Brain injuries don't just affect the person who suffers it they affect the entire family."

Paul adds: "None of us know when such life-changing events are likely to occur but the impact on the whole family is devastating, making support from places such as Daniel Yorath House invaluable."

To donate to the challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/ Lesley-Hawkin or www.justgiving.com/

Paul-Fryer

For more information on the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, visit www.birt.co.uk

THE ROOF OF AFRICA

Kilimanjaro – the "Roof of Africa", is the highest freestanding mountain in the world, standing 19,340ft on the Tanzanian plains close to the Kenyan border.

Although long dormant, it remains one of the world's largest volcanos and technically is not extinct – the Kibo crater last puffed smoke 200 years ago.

The mountain lies just 3 degrees (330 km/ 205 miles) south of the Equator and can be seen from more than 160km / 95 miles away. It is the highest mountain in the world that can be climbed without technical equipment.

Kilimanjaro was first climbed by a European in 1889 by the German

Hans Meyer.