HE is used to challenges in the boardroom and the business world.
But Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne is about to take on his biggest challenge yet – a trek to the top of Africa’s highest mountain.
The renowned businessman, originally from Clydebank, is raising money for ex-servicemen’s charity Pilgrim Bandits and will be joined by a group of amputee soldiers in an expedition to Kilimanjaro in February.
Mr Bannatyne, a patron of the charity, said: “This expedition could not be for a better cause. I am an ambassador for Pilgrim Bandits and have seen at first hand the tremendous work they do with forces amputees.
“I decided to do the trek because of the amazing courage and determination of the guys that we help in the charity, guys who have lost limbs and are still willing to jump out of aeroplanes and take on extraordinary tasks.
“There will be seven serving soldiers from 7 Rifles plus five amputees on the trip and I will have to train hard to make sure I’m not left behind.
“It’ll be a phenomenal achievement for these guys to complete this challenge and I’m really looking forward to being with them throughout it as they’re great fun.”
The self-made millionaire, who owns the Bannatyne’s Health Clubs chain, became involved with the charity – which helps injured ex-special forces personnel – after meeting Ben Parkinson.
Mr Parkinson was seriously injured while serving as a paratrooper in Afghanistan. He lost both legs and his voice, as well as sustaining brain damage, after a roadside bomb exploded in 2006.
Mr Bannatyne said: “I was actually asked to join the charity when I had lunch with Ben Parkinson, who is one of the most seriously injured ex-servicemen from Afghanistan.
“He wanted me to give the charity £5 million or do a charity skydive, so me being the tight Scotsman that I am, agreed to do the skydive. I did the jump and we raised £30,000 for the charity.
“We met up after that and I just enjoyed his company and decided to become more involved.
“These guys shouldn’t be sitting at home doing nothing. The charity gets them out and gets them doing things.”
The TV star, who has been critical of the Government’s decision to cap compensation payments to veterans at £570,000, plans to train with the former soldiers in advance of the challenge but admits that he’s not looking forward to the 10-day trek.
He said: “We’ve got some training in the diary for it, but I don’t know yet what that will involve. There’s not much I’m looking forward to at the moment to be honest – getting it over with and raising money are about the only things.”
He added that he is “dreading the oxygen situation” caused by the high altitude of the mountain.
However, his friend and celebrity DJ, Chris Moyles, who completed a Kilimanjaro trek in 2009, has told him not to worry.
Mr Bannatyne said: “He said, ‘if I can do it, you can do it so just get on with it, Duncan’.”
The dragon will be joined on the trek by Miss Commonwealth International Hayley Mac, another patron of the charity, and amputee soldier Chris Parkes, who was injured by an explosive device in Afghanistan in December. He lost his left leg and now has a prosthetic limb and is awaiting a medical discharge from the Army.
Rifleman Parkes, of the 3rd Battalion Rifles, based in Edinburgh, said: “I want to challenge myself as best I can and am doing this expedition to prove to people that I am not an invalid, but a strong individual who can get over obstacles.”
The trek to the 5895-metre (19,341ft) peak will be led by expedition guide Rhys Jones, who added: “I’ve no doubt this will be a challenging under-taking, not least of all for the amputees, but for us all. I’m confident though it will be a safe and ultimately successful trek.”
Anyone wishing to donate money to the Kilimanjaro Expedition can do so at www.bmycharity.com/killyteam.
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