Andy Kneen's challenge
Andy Kneen is planning to climb Mount Toubkal to raise money for Action for Blind People.
"Summiting Kili was a proud personal achievement and will hopefully act as a spur for this next challenge!"
Meet Andy
During a gap year in Australia in 2001, Andy was involved in a road traffic accident. He suffered multiple injuries as a result of this accident, including a below the knee amputation and the loss of sight in one eye. After a period of rehabilitation he has been working for Shell in a variety of different HR roles, based in Aberdeen and London for the past eight and a half years.
He moved to London four years ago and transferred to the world renowned Roehampton Prosthetics Clinic. He received his first “sports leg” and has not looked back since. As well as being able to jog and play cricket, in September 2010 he joined a special group, a mix of amputees and non amputee trekkers, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
A new challenge
Together with his fellow Kilimanjaro veterans, Andy will be attempting to summit Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains from 29 January until 5 February 2012. Located only 65 km south of Marrakech, and at an altitude of 4,167 metres, Mount Toubkal is the highest peak in Morocco, the High Atlas Mountains and North Africa. What makes this expedition an added challenge, is that the mountain will be largely covered with snow and ice so climbing will be done with crampons and ice axes.
Challenge itinerary
Andy has given us a copy of his week long itinerary, read it to find out exactly what he will be getting up to throughout his challenge week. Read Andy's challenge itinerary.
Training
Andy's training so far has consisted of regular long walks across the North Downs and South Downs, helping to build up stamina and practice by going up and down various hills. However, he will be taking his training to the next level during the first weekend in January with a winters skills training weekend in Glencoe, Scotland. This will be his first opportunity to wear crampons and use the ice axe in snow and ice.
Andy said, “Whilst I’m looking forward to this opportunity, it is something of a trip into the unknown and I’m little conscious about the grip and balance (or lack of!) I may have with my prosthetic leg”.
Keeping in touch
Andy will be keeping an audio diary of his Toubkal trip, starting with his winter skills training weekend in Scotland. Keep checking these pages because we will be updating the site with his progress.
Read Andy's challenge itinerary to find out what he will be doing on each day of his challenge.
Support Andy
If you would like to help Andy fundraise for Action, you can visit his JustGiving page and make a donation.
Sponsor Andy
You can sponsor Andy by visiting his JustGiving page.
How sponsorship money can help
- £10 could help a vulnerable blind or partially sighted person get support and advice over the telephone.
- £14 could pay for talking tins to help identify the contents of packaged food.
- £20 could help pay for a home visit from an Action coordinator, who will provide practical and emotional support tailored to their specific situation.
- £50 could help ensure specialist equipment is fitted enabling a blind or partially sighted person to maintain vital contact with their family and friends.
- £100 could help ensure that the necessary home improvements are made, which enable a blind or partially sighted person to feel safe in their own home.
- £462 could pay for a portable video magnifier to make words and images clearer wherever they are.
