Business leaders are aiming to conquer towering Mount Kilimanjaro in an inspiring challenge to support the transformation of Hull’s spectacular Holy Trinity Church.

The group of climbers from Hull-based companies have come together in a mission to raise significant funds and make a major contribution to the latest phase of the rejuvenation of Holy Trinity.

They will tackle the ascent of the world’s fourth highest mountain, climbing 20,000 ft (5,895 metres) to the top of the snow-capped peak during a 10-day expedition next month.

The “Team Kili” challenge is the latest fund-raising drive as part of a £4.5m development project which is putting Holy Trinity at the centre of Hull’s exciting regeneration.

The Holy Trinity climbing team comprises:

·         Andy Allenby, Managing Director of property developer Allenby Commercial.

·         Wayne Ede, Managing Director of property maintenance company Westlinks.

·         Dave Garness, Managing Director of commercial property agent Garness Jones.

·         Jonathan Leafe, Managing Director of creative marketing agency Strawberry.

·         Nic Marshall, Chief Executive of outsourced communications specialist ResQ Outsource Solutions.

·         Neil Riseham, Divisional Director for Estates and Facilities at safety equipment and workwear company Arco.

·         And Nick Ward, Managing Director of consulting engineers and construction consultants, Alan Wood & Partners, project managers for the Holy Trinity development project.

The business leaders are being joined by Holy Trinity’s Director of Development, Brian Gilliland, and former Hull Kingston Rovers player Iain Morrison, who now runs a fitness training company “This Is Warrior” and is overseeing a schedule to prepare the climbers for the ordeal.

The team launched the challenge today (August 9) when Iain Morrison staged a training session at Hull KR’s Lightstream Stadium involving the climbers running up and down the North Stand terraces as part of their preparation.

Team members said they were excited by the challenge and urged their business contacts to get fully behind their efforts to support the transformation of Holy Trinity.

Dave Garness said: “The local business community recognises the very special part Holy Trinity has always played in the life of our city and the exciting potential the church now has to be at the heart of Hull’s regeneration.

“This challenge enables us to show our backing for the transformation of Holy Trinity and raise a significant sum to help to deliver it. We’re all urging our business contacts and networks to take this opportunity to pledge their financial support for Holy Trinity and inspire us every step of the way to the summit of Kilimanjaro.”

Nick Ward said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine a significant physical and mental challenge with supporting a tremendous local cause.

“At Alan Wood & Partners we are project-managing the Holy Trinity development, so I know exactly what a difference it will make to Hull. I’m determined the climb will raise significant funds to help the exciting vision for Holy Trinity become reality.”

Former second row forward Iain Morrison played for Hull KR, Widnes Vikings, Huddersfield Giants, London Broncos and Halifax, as well as representing Scotland in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

He said: “The morale of the team is great. Everyone is very motivated and up for the challenge. They all have their own training regimes, fitting around their busy work commitments, to prepare them for the physical challenge, which I am overseeing.

“We’re doing the Yorkshire Three Peaks at the end of August and I think that will be a bit for a wake-up call for the team, but I don’t think anything can really prepare you for climbing at altitude – altitude sickness can come on very fast and hit even the fittest of climbers.”

All the climbers are paying the costs of their participation in the expedition in full to ensure 100 per cent of sponsorship and donations goes to the development project.

As well as individual donors being encouraged to support team members, Holy Trinity is appealing to local businesses to support the Kilimanjaro challenge by donating £500 to join the Team Kili “Base Camp”, giving £1,000 as a member of the “Climbers Club” or making a generous gift of £5,000 to be a “Summit Cub” sponsor.

Holy Trinity’s £4.5m development project will enable the 700-year-old church to replace outdated and inadequate facilities, become accessible to the whole community and host a wider range of cultural and social events. It will also create new income streams to secure a long-term sustainable future for the church as a spectacular, vibrant and welcoming place of worship and community use.

The first phase of the project, which is well under way, includes re-uniting the grounds of the church with the redeveloped Trinity Square – one of the key areas being renovated under Hull City Council’s multi-million pounds transformation of the public realm in the city centre.

The next phase will see the nave of the church remodelled to create a fabulous and flexible open space for worship, cultural events and performances. The “Team Kili” challenge will make a major contribution to the Holy Trinity Development Trust’s target to raise a further £500,000 by early 2017 to enable completion of phase two of the project.

To find out more about the Holy Trinity Kilimanjaro challenge and support the fund-raising drive go to www.htdoeskili.com

Supporters can also contribute at https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/htdevelotpment/htdoeskili