AN INTREPID team of up to 30 would-be adventurers from Kent Police fly to Africa this week to trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

The seven-day challenge has been organised internally for staff and officers, each of whom are embarking on the grueling climb for different reasons – from charity fundraising to meeting fitness targets.

Lorraine Weller, a tape summariser in the criminal justice unit based at Canterbury police station, Det Con Chris Owen from Canterbury CID and Will Baker, deputy manager at Thanet’s criminal justice unit, will be climbing together and are looking forward to the trek.

Lorraine Weller said: “I am doing this for sheer personal achievement. On the day we climb to the summit, we start off at midnight and so will see the sun rise over Africa, which will be incredible.

“I want to do the Himalayas next year now.”

After flying out on Thursday, the trek will start on Saturday and the team is due to reach the peak 5,895 metres above Tanzania on Thursday, February 21.

Participants have been in training with regular trips to the gym, fell walking and bike riding to and from work, and can expect to face with a vast range of temperatures, from 40 degrees centigrade to minus 15.

They will also have to deal with the possible effects on the human body of the change in altitude.