client news
Banbury man's battle to
the summit inspires the Integration Technology team
A Banbury man who had lost his leg below the knee to urgent surgery has
climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and raised more than ?16,000 for charity with
support from Upper Heyford-based Integration Technology Ltd (ITL).
When a member of staff at the Oxfordshire company announced that his son
was to be one of a small team of five to tackle Africa's highest peak,
the news provoked a certain amount of interest.
But when colleagues heard the full story behind 41-year-old plumber Andy
Ward's attempt on the mountain, they decided to do more than just sit and
watch his progress.
Serious life-threatening complications resulting from a form of cancer
had resulted in Andy losing his leg below the knee just three years ago.
Now, he was to put himself through a test of extreme physical endurance
to raise money for charity, UCARE (Urology Cancer Research and Education)
and contribute to research to help fellow patients.
Two important team members with Andy all the way were the porter who
carried his spare 'leg' and specialist nurse, Gemma Crane.
Gemma nursed Andy through his illness at a time when there seemed little
hope that he would survive. She took on the climb as her own personal
challenge but was also there as medical back up for Andy if necessary.
Snow-capped Kilimanjaro towers 5895m over the plains of Tanzania. "No
technical climbing is involved," she relates. "But we did face a highly
strenuous thirty-three kilometre hike through the rainforest and across
high moorland to the glacial terrain of the summit.
"By day five of the climb, the altitude can affect anyone, no matter what
their fitness level.
"An important factor in the climb for Andy was his determination to show
that he was no different to anyone else and that he could rise to such a
challenge."
Andy and Gemma (pictured) recently visited ITL to meet the team at the
company's headquarters to receive donations to UCARE collected by staff
members of ?290, together with a cheque from the company for ?1000.
ITL is a pioneering manufacturer of ultra-violet curing systems for the
worldwide inkjet printer market and recent proud winner of the 2009
Queen's Award for International Trade.
Commenting on Andy's achievements, ITL Director of Global Accounts, David
Johnson said:
"The entire workforce at ITL was truly inspired by Andy's determination
and we have been following progress reports of his climb closely.
"It's a real pleasure to have him with us today and to join in
contributing to such a worthwhile cause as UCARE."
ends
Issued February 2009 on behalf of Integration Technology Ltd by
petermuir public relations
Whiteleaf Business Centre, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18
1TF, UK
tel 00 44 (0) 1296 715228 fax 00 44 (0)1296 715486
About Integration Technology Ltd (ITL)
Please follow this link:
http://www.pmpr.co.uk/int_technology.htm
EDITORS' NOTES:
For comment/interview with ITL management and/or technologists, contact:
Peter Muir peter.muir@pmpr.co.uk
tel. 00 44 (0)1296 175228 mobile 00 44 (0)7703 648077
About UCARE
Gemma runs clinics for cancer patients and their families and, as part of
her work, has created an interactive web-based support group for men with
testicular cancer.
Her online forum is based at
http://www.oxfordcancerinfo.org.uk
Information on the
Kilimanjaro project can be found on
www.ucareoxford.org.uk/news/kilimanjaro.html
About Integration
Technology Ltd (ITL)
Please follow this link:
http://www.pmpr.co.uk/int_technology.htm
For comment/interview with
ITL management and/or technologists, contact:
Peter Muir
peter.muir@pmpr.co.uk tel. 00
44 (0)1296 175228 mobile 00 44 (0)7703 648077
