MORE than £7,000 has been raised for charity after a 14-strong team from a Bromsgrove-based foster carers organisation climbed Kilimanjaro.
The staff, foster carers and social workers from Foster Care Associates (FCA) collected the cash for The Rees Foundation – a recently launched charity which supports individuals who have spent time in care.
It offers those who have been in foster or residential care the important support they need to cope with independent living at any stage in their lives.
The money will be used to expand The Rees Foundation’s mentoring service and other project work.
That will allow more care leavers to complete a qualification in mentoring, or allow more care leavers to be offered a mentor when they need it most.
The trek – up the highest mountain in Africa – took the team 11 days to complete with temperatures ranging from the very hot (up to 37 degrees celsius) to the bitterly cold (-15) when they reached the top.
Sarah Milan, The Rees Foundation’s director who was also part of Foster Care Associates Kilimanjaro trek team, said: “All the funds raised will go towards our project work helping us to build a supportive network of people with care experience – we will be able to offer many more opportunities as a result of this great fund-raising effort through signposting, events, training and mentoring.”
He added many services aimed at those leaving care could only be accessed up to a certain age so – through the charity – they hoped to help anyone who had been in care at any stage to thrive and reach their potential.
“I’d like to express a huge thank you to all of the team and those who supported us.” he said.
David Oldham, CEO of Foster Care Associates, said: “FCA carers and staff have a strong record in fund-raising.
“This challenge has brought together a group of people who feel passionately about establishing a strong support network for those who have spent time in care.”
And it does not stop there for the intrepid group as many of the Kilimanjaro team are planning to cycle from London to Paris next year for The Rees Foundation.
The charity is also continuing to take donations.
Those wanting to boost the coffers can e-mail [email protected] or visit https://www.justgiving.com/RFkili15
Donations can also be texted to REES57 £(amount) to 70070.
Visit www.reesfoundation.org for more on The Rees Foundation, including how to access its services, volunteer for the cause or donate.
For more on the Foster Care Associates, go to www.thefca.co.uk or call 0800 023 4561.
