British Stars To Climb Kilimanjaro For Comic Relief

Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole are to join a host of other British celebrities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief next year.

According to reports in Britain’s The Sun newspaper, the stars will join Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, singer Alesha Dixon, television presenters Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard, West-End star Denise Van Outen and radio DJ Chris Moyles for the climb up Africa’s highest peak.

“I went to Africa for Comic Relief 18 months ago and the images from that trip have stayed with me and made me want to do something big to make a difference and raise money,” said Take That's Gary Barlow. “The other people on the climb feel similarly, so it made sense to ask them to join me. I have chosen the people I want to be stuck on the side of a mountain with, even if we are the least likely you would expect to find there.”

4,000 people attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year, although only 1,400 actually reach the top of the 5,895 meter peak. Around 100 climbers die of altitude sickness on the mountain every year, so it will be no walk in the park for the stars.

“Since visiting Africa with Comic Relief a year ago, I haven’t been able to forget how easy it is for someone in my position to help change the lives of poor and vulnerable people by raising money,” said Kimberly Walsh. “When Gary approached me and Cheryl about doing the climb, I didn’t think twice.”