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It's not often you can say you have climbed 5,895m and reached the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro! For Aidan Mcafferty, he can now say he has achieved this incredible feet and for a fanastic cause which has already touched his life. This is Adian's story:
"My story is a simple one really in comparison with other people who have been helped by The Beatson, but I was diagnosed with testicular cancer two years ago now in December 2014, I found this out whilst on exchange in France with university. After returning home and having an operation on the 9th December 2014, I was told the operation was a success on Christmas Eve 2014. Ever since I have been attending The Beatson for regular check ups, and I have recently moved onto 3 monthly appointments. Seeing Dr White, Nicola Thomson and Julie Cain mostly when I am there, all of which are fantastic and we do have a good chat when I am in for my appointments.
I was incredibly lucky that I didn't need to go through the traumatic experience of chemotherapy and radiation treatments but to know the services of Beatson Cancer Charity were available was such a comforting thought, and that is what inspired me to take on this challenge on their behalf. I may not have needed the services the charity provides but I am very aware that one day I might, and if it isn't me who needs it there are many others who thrive in a what is a very dark time in most peoples lives thanks to The Beatson. So I am very proud to be an ambassador, and wish to be more involved in the charity in any way I can.
As for the Kilimanjaro challenge itself, it involved five days of trekking up and two down through wet, stormy and snowy conditions (some of the worst seen on the mountain in a long time, during the dry season). I had to tackle sore heads, vomiting and dizziness, as a result of altitude sickness, which wasn't pleasant.
However, with sheer grit and determination I managed it to the top on the 1st January 2017 at roughly 6.19am GMT. I was elated at the summit to think that two years ago I was unsure of what path my life would take and then two years later I was standing on the roof of Africa, watching the sunrise on a New Year."
