A PARAMEDIC from Cleveland is taking on the gruelling climb to the top of Africa's highest point to raise funds for ambulance workers.

Jane Sinclair, of the North East Ambulance Service, will begin her ten-day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro on September 22 to raise money for The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC).

She will face a steep 6km climb to the summit through tropical rainforest and snow-capped peaks in a bid to raise over £4,500 for the charity dedicated to supporting the UK’s ambulance community.

Jane, who is an experienced paramedic and has served in ambulance services across the country, said she is excited to fulfil this great adventure while raising money for her colleagues in the ambulance service.

She said: “I have wanted to go to Africa since my late teens and when I saw the Kilimanjaro trek on the TASC website, I thought that this would be a golden opportunity to fulfil my dream as well as raising money for my fellow colleagues in the ambulance service.

" Outdoor pursuits have been a passion of mine for the last 20-years so I’m really excited to take on this adventure.”

Jasmin Rana of the TASC said: “We’re so excited that Jane has chosen to fundraise for TASC.

"Demand for our services is growing year-on-year and we’re seeing a rapid increase in need as our lifesaving ambulance staff start to experience the mental, physical and financial impacts of the Coronavirus.

We need the support of people like Jane to continue being an independent source of support for the UK’s ambulance community in their time of need.

"The funds that Jane raises will make a big difference to the people we help and if she achieves her £4,500 target, we could provide an additional 76 hours of support for people struggling with their mental health or an extra 89 sessions of physiotherapy for people injured in the line of duty.”

Donations can be made via Jane's Just Giving page