Uphill struggle as John faces race against time (From Gazette & Herald)

Uphill struggle as John faces race against time

IT'S a race to recovery for a top Ryedale council executive who needs to overcome an ankle injury before a trip of a lifetime to Mount Kilimanjaro.

John Davison, 46, who is head of operations at Ryedale District Council, sprained his ankle while night training for the sponsored event.

It was planned with seven other team members who completed their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards together as teenagers.

"This year is the 50th anniversary of the awards, and on the 25th anniversary we vowed that they would re-form for it to do something very special to recognise how the Duke of Edinburgh Award can change people's lives," said John.

The trip is in aid of the award's Jubilee Fund, which is being set up to enable disabled and disadvantaged young people in the North of England to achieve their dreams of a fuller life through the award.

The team has been in training for a year now, hiking in the Lake District and cycling for a week in the French Alps, in preparation for attempting to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, setting off on Friday, February 17.

"To get within four-and-a-half weeks and sprain my ankle - to say I was miffed is an understatement," said John.

He is currently under-going physiotherapy and laser treatment, and will soon know for sure whether he can go. It feels like a one-off opportunity, like I've been training for the Olympics. I will be very disappointed if I can't go."

However, even if doctor's orders prevent him, John will still be putting all his efforts into supporting the team. "All the sponsorship will go to the team still, and I would urge anyone to help them as the fund is such a worthwhile cause," he said.

John's colleagues at Ryedale District Council have been very supportive of his venture. "They all think I'm mad, but they have been right behind me and they've been very generous with sponsorship."

His wife, Felicity, is used to John having a project on the go, and his sons, Joe, 10 and seven-year-old Freddie, think it's great.

"They are both keen mountain bikers so they might want to do this kind of thing with me in a few years," he said.

On Friday, February 3, the expedition team has arranged for the top British mountaineer Alan Hinkes OBE to give a lecture on his recent success in becoming the first British climber to reach the summit all of the world's 8,000-metre mountains. The talk will take place in Hutton Rudby Village Hall, near Stokesley, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Ken Brown on (01642) 700533, John Davison on (01642) 785718 or the award office on (01912) 703000.

Updated: 14:38 Wednesday, January 25, 2006