28th February 2009

Comic Relief's celebrity climbers jetted out to Tanzania tonight to embark on the first leg of The BT Red Nose Climb up Mount Kilimanjaro! The group is undertaking the climb of a lifetime to raise a mountain of cash for Red Nose Day 2009.

The A-list celebrities, comprising Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, Gary Barlow, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating, boarded a Kenya Airways flight from Heathrow Terminal 4 for the eight and a half hour journey to Africa. Alesha Dixon and Ben Shephard flew out ahead of the other climbers to see how Comic Relief money is being spent in Tanzania to help change lives there.

Gary, who sat next to Chris in seats 3D and 3E respectively, said "We've been planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for so long, it's only now that we're boarding the plane that it's really dawned on me just how tough this could be! Worse still I've drawn the short straw so I get to sit next to Moyles for nearly nine hours!"

Meanwhile Kimberley in seat 3B, sat next to Cheryl in 3A, said "I'm really excited but also really nervous now we're finally jetting out. Hopefully all our training will have paid off, and my recent foot trouble won't stop me reaching the summit and raising lots of money for Comic Relief!"

Mount Kilimanjaro stands at a whopping 19,340 feet above sea level; is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. It will take the celebrity climbers an exhausting 8-day trek to reach the summit and they're going to need all the help they can get!
http://www.rednoseday.com/whats_on/news_general/and_theyre

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COMIC Relief bosses fear injured Take That star Gary Barlow will not make it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Just hours after the celebrity group set off on their trek, Gary was laid low with a painful back strain.

The 38-year-old has had to knock back painkillers and is walking with the aid of two poles in a bid to keep up with the rest of the group.

And two medics are watching his every move in case he does any more damage.

His injury has slowed down the rest of the stars – including X Factor babe Cheryl Cole, 25 – who have stayed with him rather than walk ahead.

They missed their time target on their first day and insiders revealed that yesterday was the first time the singer had exercised in three weeks. He was forced to stop training to ease his back pain.

Now bosses are worried he could be out of the fundraiser. One said: “The medics on the ground say his back should loosen up the more he walks but the fear is that he may trip over and really put his back out.

“If that happens halfway up the mountain then we have serious problems.”

Cheryl has admitted that training for the gruelling task had taken its toll.

She said: “I’ve got blisters on every toe of both feet. I sent my friend a text message the other night after a 12-mile walk on the treadmill.

“When I went to bed I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to get up in the morning.”
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news....e-climb

Gary Barlow has collapsed with back pain after just one day of his Comic Relief trek up Kilimanjaro.

The Take Thatter complained of back pain before starting the trek and had to use two walking sticks for support.

But the Daily Mirror reports he "collapsed in a heap" after four hours of trekking as he could no longer bear the pain.

"He was in a great deal of pain but everyone rallied around him to get him through it. It was a hellish experience," a source said.

His former boy band rival Ronan Keating of Boyzone was much more upbeat.

"Today wasn't too tough a day. I don't mind sleeping in a tent - I go camping with the kids once or twice a year and you get used to it. I've got my gear, it's all here, we've got a little mattress. It's cosy and cool," he said.

Also on the trek are Girls Aloud's Cheryl Cole and Kimberly Walsh, Denise Van Outen, Alesha Dixon, Fearne Cotton, Ben Shepherd and Chris Moyles.

To sponsor The BT Red Nose Climb go to www.rednoseday.com/sponsortheteam.
http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/celebri....4706365

Here is Day Two of GARY BARLOW’s diary of the trek.

THIS has been a long day of walking – seven hours in total and I think we all have aching legs – most of us are walking with two poles because the terrain is so steep and rocky.

The girls tend to lead and us boys follow up behind – I slow them down because my back is probably a three out of ten.

But everyone is brilliant – especially the guides – and all the girls keep offering to take my day pack from me, bless them.

We were all making each other laugh as we walked by replicating the sounds we make on the BT Speaking Clock and adding new ones – both artificial and natural (we had beans last night).

Sponsor the celebs on their epic climb at rednoseday.com/sponsortheteam.

The scenery is spectacular – we walked across one of the biggest ridges, the remnants of an old volcano crater.

We are at about 11,500ft now and you can really tell that the air is getting thinner and the temperature is colder.

There have been a few headaches but we are spurred on by photos Denise Van Outen and Fearne Cotton have of children they met who are dying from malaria.

The end of the walk was in rain so we all reached camp tired and wet.

Then, just as we were getting ready to collapse in the mess tent, the clouds parted and we had the most beautiful view of the summit for the first time.
Day one

WAKE up at 5am for a hearty breakfast of porridge and eggs on toast before setting off into the rainforest for the first leg of the trek.

It’s very steep and I’m having to use two poles for my back – but I’m told it will loosen up after the first day’s climb.

We saw some colobus monkeys but we had to be careful to avoid ant nests.

Tucked into a packed lunch of sandwich, chocolate bar, banana, carrot sticks, boiled egg and a tropical fruit drink.

We only walked for four hours today because of the intense heat and steep incline.

Set up camp for the night at the Big Tree Camp at 9,000ft.

Dinner is hot soup to rehydrate, pasta for carbohydrates and lots of drinks.

Soon it will be time to retire to my tent for my first night of kip on Kilimanjaro.

I’ll have more updates for you tomorrow.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol....316.ece