Peter Strawbridge, 68, is set to join a sponsored group climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands at 19,341ft (5,895m), from October 2 to 11.
Now a retired former Met Police service worker, Mr Strawbridge volunteers on the Bournemouth Town Pastor team and his wife Jane, a retired NHS nurse of 37 years, now volunteers as an Assistant Chaplain with the BCP NHS Hospital Chaplaincy team.
Peter Strawbridge climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in October to raise money for Bournemouth Town Pastors and UHD Chaplaincy teams. (Image: (L-R) Peter Strawbridge, Penfran Tanzania, Pexels)
He said: “We are passionate about caring for people in our community so I want to raise funds to support these two important local causes.”
Mr Strawbridge is fully funding his own participation in the climb and is appealing to the public for their help in raising money and sponsorship so that “every penny” can go to the two local causes.
Mr Strawbridge said his voluntary work is based on his faith as a Christian with the aim of helping “vulnerable people” throughout the night, rather than actively evangelising.
He added: “Anyone who appears vulnerable: those who are separated from friends, out alone, the worse for wear, lost, lonely, confused or unwell.
“We don’t actively evangelise, but we believe actions speak more strongly than words.”
Mr Strawbridge volunteers alongside other Christians from a range of local churches in ‘Town Pastor Teams’.
Volunteers patrol in mixed male and female teams, carrying radios to communicate with nightclub door staff, police, paramedics and the town’s CCTV service.
Their equipment includes a defibrillator, first-aid items, foil blankets, water, flip flops, local-service information and power packs for flat mobile phones.
Peter Strawbridge climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in October to raise money for Bournemouth Town Pastors and UHD Chaplaincy teams. (Image: Penfran Tanzania)
Mr Strawbridge also emphasised the importance of volunteers working within UHD Chaplaincy services.
He said: “Chaplains depend on the team of dedicated volunteer Assistant Chaplains to meet these needs at what are often a critical time in peoples’ lives.”
Volunteers provide multi faith, on-ward spiritual, religious and pastoral support requested by hospital staff, patients and their families.
To support Mr Strawbridge, donations can be made via the “Peter’s Kilimanjaro Charity Climb for Bournemouth NHS Hospitals Chaplaincy+ Bournemouth Town Pastors” page or the QR code with this article.