Daring challenge for Commissioner

The City of London Police Commissioner, Adrian Leppard, will be attempting a world first to raise funds for the Lord Mayor's chosen charities as well as for humanitarian causes in Africa.

He will be raising money for charity by facing sub-freezing temperatures, nausea, headache, dizziness and fatigue as he battles over 19,000 ft to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania before paragliding back to earth as part of the Wings of Kilimanjaro project.

Commissioner Leppard, who will be undertaking the challenge in his own time, has already passed the selection process to take part in this jaw-droppingly daring project which brings together some 200 intrepid paragliders from across the globe in a huge humanitarian effort. Commissioner Leppard hopes to raise a minimum of £20,000 for charities chosen by the new Lord Mayor Roger Gifford, and other causes in Africa and is seeking support from the City community to help him meet his target.

The group, which is seeking to raise over £1 million collectively, will travel to Mount Kilimanjaro early in February next year to undertake the gruelling 7 day climb in what will be a once in a lifetime fundraising event.

Commissioner Leppard said: "Taking part in this amazing project presents me with the biggest challenge of my life as well as giving me the opportunity to raise funds for the Lord Mayor's charities and worthwhile causes in Africa. It is unbelievable that, in some areas
of Tanzania around the foot of Kilimanjaro where these charities are working, life is so hard that over 50% of children die before reaching the age of 5. Knowing I have the support of businesses and individuals from the City community, as well as my colleagues across the force, will really make a difference." "The challenge won't be easy and not all the pilots will make it to the top."