Bowel cancer patient who had life-saving surgery at Warwick Hospital completes charity Kilimanjaro climb

Mark Harrington and his friend Dean Hands recently completed their fundraising challenge in aid of the SWFT Charity, the official charity of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

Mark, a grandad from Alcester, had emergency life-saving surgery at Warwick Hospital in 2023 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. Since his recovery, he has been determined to give back.

Mark, Dean and their team spent four days climbing from base camp to the summit, encountering heavy snowfall that nearly halted progress and witnessed an avalanche the evening before their summit attempt.

The final push began at midnight, with the team reaching the summit around 8am after battling altitude sickness and freezing temperatures. They then pushed on and reached the summit, followed by a 14-kilometre descent.

The challenge was made possible thanks to the expertise and support of the guides, Sherpas, and the 360 Expeditions team accompanying them.

Their efforts continues Mark’s mission to raise funds to enhance bowel cancer care and support patients across south Warwickshire, building on his previous Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge, which lead to the opening of the Harrington Suite at Warwick Hospital – an addition to the Colorectal Care unit.

A spokesperson from the SWFT Charity said: “We are incredibly proud of Mark, Dean and the entire team for completing such an intense and unpredictable challenge.

"Their resilience and determination will make a real difference for future patients, and we are so grateful for their ongoing commitment to enhancing bowel cancer treatment at SWFT.”

To donate to Mark's fundraising page go to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bowelsinmotion