Hastings man scales Kilimanjaro in aid of unpaid carers

Hastings resident, Jon Heneke, is about to take on his biggest mountain climbing challenge yet, to help raise funds for local East Sussex charity Care for the Carers. With huge appreciation and awareness of how much funds are needed, Annie Mannion from Care for the Carers writes.

A seasoned climber, Jon has already scaled other peaks including Ben Nevis and Snowdon, but his latest fundraiser this summer will be to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which stands at an eye-watering 5,895 metres above sea level. To climb it has always been one of Jon’s personal ambitions: “I thought I’d better try and tick this off the list because I’m not getting any younger!” he says.

To spur him on during the arduous trek and the time spent acclimatising to the height, Jon will be listening to Florence and the Machine and Oasis, and thinking of all the people that his fundraising will help – many of the 65,000+ unpaid carers across East Sussex, approximately 9,000 of whom live in Hastings.

“The people that have sponsored me for this charity is all the motivation I need, and I’ll do my best not to let them down. I’m trekking the largest peak in Africa for Care for the Carers because I want to raise money and awareness for this cause,” Jon says. “I wanted to support a charity that’s local to where I live. Any given person could be in a position one day where they are caring for a partner, child or parent full time, and this has a financial impact that makes life very difficult,” says Jon.

“Please give what you can. I want to help ensure that unpaid carers in East Sussex lead less stressful and more fulfilling lives. Care for the Carers provides them with free practical and emotional advice along with a range of groups, training and events across the county,” adds Jon.

Jon Heneke

Jon will be spending six days on Kilimanjaro itself, one of which will be used to acclimatise to the altitude – and he’ll be hiking for about six hours per day.

Care for the Carers Chief Executive, Jennifer Twist, says, “We are delighted that Jon has chosen to do this momentous climb for Care for the Carers and highlight this incredibly important cause. With threatened cuts to services for unpaid carers we are relying now, more than ever, on individuals to support us – to raise awareness, and funds, so that our valuable work can continue and we can reach the carers who need us.”

Jon is an avid surfer in Hastings and an active part of its surfing community too – and living here offers Jon lots of picturesque and spectacular training opportunities. “Hastings Country Park is an amazing unspoilt area with pretty tough areas to do my training. I love it there and live quite close to it, so I feel very lucky.”

Care for the Carers is the Carers Centre for East Sussex and an independent charity supporting unpaid carers across the county. The charity provides free practical and emotional advice and a range of services such as counselling, support groups and training. 

A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

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