Sean, 10, aims to conquer Kilimanjaro

A 10-YEAR-OLD Dublin boy is hoping to become the youngest person to conquer Africa’s highest mountain.

Sean McSharry from Stillorgan has been in training for three months with his godfather Ian McKeever and 17-year-old Harry Moore for the trip to 5,898-metre Mount Kilimanjaro at the end of the month. The previous record is held by a 13-year-old and, despite the immense challenge, the team are happy about their chances.

“I’m not really afraid, I’m confident,” said Sean yesterday.

He recently completed a 10-kilometre run as part of his fitness regime and they will do some night climbing in the Wicklow mountains to prepare for the final leg of their journey which will be done in darkness.

“The run was fine but my legs were really sore at the end of it,” said Sean.

He couldn’t ask for a better mentor, however, as Ian last year broke a world record for climbing the highest mountain on each continent faster than anyone. He ascended the seven summits over 155 days between January and June.

The broadcaster works with Dublin’s Country Mix radio station but is a well-known voice nationally from his previous work with AA Roadwatch and Today FM.

“It’s going to be tough but it doesn’t really matter how old or what size you are, the most important thing is how you acclimatise,” he told The Gerry Ryan Show on 2fm.

“There are fully grown men who just don’t make it on the summit, they have to acclimatise properly and you see them dropping like flies on summit night,” he said.

Sean and Harry, a winger on his school Terenure College’s senior rugby team, are hoping they prove the point that it’s not all about age when they head out to Tanzania on April 24.

The 10-year-old has been dubbed the Broccoli Kid by classmates at Carysfort National School. He has given up sweets and swapped them for green vegetables to boost his iron levels.

Sean has climbed Carrauntohill a number of times, but the real challenge starts in a fortnight.

The group is hoping to raise funds for Aids Partnership with Africa.

* More information from www.takemehigher.ie