With its 5,895m high peak, Kilimanjaro is not for the faint-hearted! It’s one of the most iconic mountains and an ascent goal for intrepid adventurers (and amazing fundraisers) the world over.
That’s why climbing it has been on Elle’s mind for some time as part of her mum Ali’s legacy. Ali greatly valued receiving support from The Brain Tumour Charity before she died from a brain tumour in 2016.
Now Elle has put together a band of 16 trekkers aiming to take on the Kilimanjaro challenge in January 2026.
A mountain to climb: Kilimanjaro 2026
“We will be climbing on the 20th January which is the day my mum passed, so it’s going to be full of emotions but, hopefully, lots of great memories together which my mum would have loved to have been part of.
“We have been training as much as we can, but something we can’t really replicate is the altitude (or the hills here in Norfolk) many of us have ventured far away for training and to get practice in – but we all have my mum in mind so I think she will give us mental strength throughout the challenge when we need it.
“We are all nervous, scared about sleeping in a tent on a mountain for over a week. None of us have pushed ourselves this hard physically before – but we are all so excited to do it together and more than anything, honour my mum with lots of people that mean the world to me.”
(Elle and Scott pictured)
Inspired by Ali
Ali was diagnosed with cancer in September 2015 and after four months of treatment and courage, she sadly died on Wednesday 20th January with her family by her side.
Elle said: “January 2026 is a poignant date for the Gedge and Ling families as it marks 10 years since the passing of my mum. Someone who lit up every room with her smile and contagious laugh, someone who was there for everyone and bought so much joy to their lives, someone who was loved by so many. That’s why we’ve chosen to complete this trek for our supporter group, The Ali Ling fund.”
As well as some of Elle’s closest childhood best friends, family are also joining the Kilimanjaro group: “I was 19 when she passed at 47 and she was my best friend as well as my mum. We were so close. My partner Scott never got to meet my mum but this is a way of him feeling closer to her and supporting me. Then there are my cousins, all climbing for their auntie. We were so close growing up as my mum was a single mum, so I had more of a sibling relationship with my cousins.”
“I have to say a huge shout-out to everyone taking part: Meredith, Megan B, Megan S, Dave, Alex, Adam, Colin, my partner Scott, Stevie, Amy, Sam, Sydney, George, Victoria and Lucy!”
The Ali Ling Fund
“Ali was somebody who could brighten up a room with her smile – and boy did she smile! She spent her life caring for others and sharing her love and her positivity with everyone she met. Her spirit for life was such that if you were lucky enough to know Ali, you will have a happy memory of her, which is so evident in the many beautiful tributes paid to her in the last week.
“Family is so important to us and that’s why we want to raise more money for the earlier diagnosis of brain tumours – to prevent more families from going through the devastation that we had.
“We would like to encourage all friends and relatives to donate any amount to The Brain Tumour Charity in Ali’s memory so that more research can be done to try and stop more lives being taken too early.”
- Their fundraising page
- Find out more about The Ali Ling Fund