For UEA Kilimanjaro Society, fundraising is an uphill battle – literally. This August, members of this new student group will tackle the ‘Roof of Africa’ to support the work of Dig Deep; a small charity working towards water and sanitation infrastructure in East Africa. Being the highest peak in its continent and the largest free-standing mountain in the world – at 5,895 metres above sea level – this certainly isn’t a feat for the fainthearted. I had a chat with the Society’s Union Council Rep, Finley Browne, to find out more about the team’s motivations and plans to take on this mammoth challenge.   

What inspired you to take on the Kilimanjaro Challenge?  

I was initially interested in the opportunity of being able to go climb the infamous Mt Kilimanjaro, a trip which had been on my bucket list for some time now. After learning more about the charity and the life-changing money to be raised for clean water in Kenya, I was further encouraged to get involved. Having this amazing trip with a meaningful and essential cause is really exciting: not only is it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and great personal challenge, but an excellent fundraising opportunity for a very deserving cause.   

What is Dig Deep and what do they do?  

Dig Deep are a brilliant charity who aim to raise money to support access to water and sanitation in Bomet County, Kenya; where 1 million live but two out of three people have no access to clean water. They collaborate with the Kenyan government, local businesses, and communities to transform access to these vital services, and organise fundraisers like ours to support the cause. The charity was actually started by university students, and brings together a great community of change-makers which we’re really excited to be a part of! You can find out more about their work at digdeep.org.uk .   

Who’s taking part in the challenge?  

There are lots of universities with teams from around the country involved for the same goal, everywhere from Surrey to Strathclyde. We have a fantastic and diverse team of around 9 of us from UEA, and we’re super excited to take on the climb in late August. Anyone interested in joining us can support team fundraising this year and take on the climb in 2026, as well, so definitely contact us if you’re keen!  

Have you or your teammates ever done anything like this before?   

This is the biggest challenge any of us have taken on so far besides hikes such as those for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This challenge definitely won’t be easy for us, but we feel more than capable and are excited to take on the challenge! Kilimanjaro is also actually a beginner friendly climb, so we really encourage everyone to consider this challenge in future years.   

How are you preparing physically and mentally for the climb?  

In terms of training and preparation, I’ve been cycling everywhere (to train for a personal fundraiser), and have also returned to the UEA Climbing Club to improve my general strength levels. Hiking practice will also be completed to work on hiking endurance, and as a team we’re also planning on taking on other hikes like the Three Peaks Challenge and a Snowdonia trip to get some practice in all together. Dig Deep is also facilitating a February Fitness and Fundraising Program, which we’re taking part in to keep fit while raising funds and spreading awareness of the cause, so please follow us on this journey if you’d like to keep active with us!  

What impact will your fundraising have?  

Our fundraising has a truly crucial impact in providing clean water to villages in Bomet County, Kenya. We’ll be providing the opportunity for those in these villages to access safe drinking water, use safe toilets, and receive hygiene and menstrual health education; all of which are essential to empower communities.   

How can we support you to reach your fundraising goal?  

Anyone can help through awareness and donations primarily! We have a long way to go and we need all the support we can get, so please follow us on Instagram at @ueakilimanjaro, and come along to our Valentine’s Day Bake Sale in Lecture Theatre 1! We’ll be announcing more fundraisers and events on our social media, so keep an eye on that and please share the cause with friends and family because it all makes a really big impact! Our fundraising page can be found at: dig-deep.enthuse.com/pf/uea