TWELVE Gwent Business people are set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Sparkle.

The team consists of Clive Thomas and Lisa Guscott of law firm Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, John Hardaker of Yellow Dragon, Andrew Thomas of A.F Thomas & Sons, Mike Hatherall of Mike Hatherall IT Consultancy, Roger Thompson of Pegasus Whirlpool Baths, massage therapist Tig Bidmead, Carly Davies and Sarah Jane Watts of Summerhill Veterinary Centre, Nigel Davies of ND Chartered Management Accountants, foster carer Peter Hopkins and Jonathan Rees of The Screen Fix.

They are preparing to conquer the 5,892m dormant volcano in February 2014 with the aim of raising at least £6,000 for Sparkle.

Sparkle was formed in 2003 with the aim of building and equipping a state-of-the-art centre to help the thousands of families in South Gwent caring for a disabled child. The Sparkle Appeal has led to the building of a purpose built children’s centre, Serennu, which provides treatment and assessment facilities, information, and leisure activities for more than a thousand children with complex and special needs in South Gwent.

In preparation for the gruelling challenge, the team are embarking on a rigorous training regime with a number of practise walks up mountains, including Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons. The team are also fundraising through a series of events including a recent Man v Pie competition at Rodney Parade and a Gala Dinner in October.

Clive Thomas, managing partner of Watkins & Gunn Solicitors, said: “As Gwent business people we wanted to support a Gwent charity and having taken a tour of the children’s centre at Sparkle, we were very impressed with their work.

“However, there is still so much more specialist equipment that the children need so we’re hoping to raise as much money as possible through our charity climb to help them to do so.”

Carla Hopkins of Sparkle said: “Serennu would not be here without the support of our friends in business“We are enormously grateful to the Kilimanjaro 2014 team members who have signed up to complete this huge challenge.”