West Norfolk: One step at a time for this charity trio
Kilimanjaro Charity Climb: LtoR, Dean Flanagan, Dacey McGivern, Jack Flanagan
TWO cousins and their friend are taking their fundraising to new heights in their mission to take on Mount Kilimanjaro and a skydive in memory of a loving father.
Jack, 15, and Dean Flanagan, 22, and Dacey McGivern, 18, all from Lynn, are putting their energies into fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK following the death of Dean’s father, Andy, in July – just seven months after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Dean said: “He was diagnosed in October and it was a shock to us all. It took ages for him to be diagnosed because doctors thought it was something else.
“When we knew what it was, the doctors kept trying to prepare him for the worst but the more they said, the more stubborn he became.”
Jack added: “He was the nicest person you would ever meet – but he had such a quick wit.
“He was just a bit of a joker really, but I think he would have been really supportive of what we plan to do, once he finished telling us we were crazy.”
The cousins were inspired to take on the challenge of a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, next October, after they heard that their friend, Dacey was planning to complete a skydive in memory of Andy.
Dacey said: “When Andy died, I decided to play a song on the hospital radio, where I volunteer, in his memory. I played We Are The Champions by Queen.
“Then I decided I wanted to do more to fundraise for Pancreatic Cancer UK. I’m doing the jump on my birthday, February 3 and I’m fundraising through www.doitforcharity.com/Dacey”
Jack said: “The actual trek is not that daunting as we are both quite fit, but with the fundraising we’re not quite sure where to start.
“We need to raise £5,000 just for the two of us to do the trek and we are planning to hold some fundraising events.”
Dean added: “We’re completing two 32 mile treks a month and we’re adding more weight each time to get our bodies used to the pressure.
“Hopefully that will prepare us for the real thing.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
