Francis to trek Kilimanjaro in aid of Action MS

Francis Nugent, 55, father of four, of Landgarve Manor left on a seven day trek which is set to begin on Saturday to raise money for Action MS.

Francis, who caught the bug for trekking 11 years ago and has helped raise thousands of pounds for charities such as Parkinson’s, Mencap, Cancer Research, Action Cancer and Focus Ireland.

At 44, he climbed Machu Picchu in Peru when he was going through what he described as a ‘midlife crisis.’

He has since climbed the Great Wall of China, ran the New York Marathon, climbed the Four Irish Peaks and the UK Four Peaks.

Reaching 55 this year, Francis decided that Action MS was the charity that he wanted to support and Kilimanjaro was the place that he wanted to trek.

“I know of someone who was diagnosed of the condition recently and I have already supported many other charities so I wanted to do something to help an MS charity,” he said

“I have not done anything since my 50th birthday so I wanted to do something special this year,”

So instead of presents at Christmas and birthday he has asked friends and family to donate money for his latest challenge. So far he has raised an amazing £2,000 for charity.

“I do a lot of walking so I was keen enough to do this challenge,” he said

Francis has spent every weekend since March on the the Mourne Mountains as well as walking seven miles a day.