University supports Manchester United Foundation’s Kilimanjaro challenge

A group of intrepid trekkers, including former Manchester United and England footballer Bryan Robson, have used Manchester Met’s world-class facilities and expertise in their preparations to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Robson, along with the Chief Executive of Manchester United Foundation John Shiels and journalist Andy Mitten, teamed up with sports scientists at the University Institute of Sport to experience exercise in an extreme environment to better prepare them for the demanding challenges of the 5,895-metre climb. 

The challenge will raise funds for Manchester United Foundation and will see the group spending seven days ascending Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where they travel through rainforest, moorland, highland desert and finally reach the arctic zone at the summit.   

Jack Thomson, a medical doctor and Associate Clinical Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, said: “The climate and environment that the team will be facing climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is extreme and, therefore, preparation is key to success and safety. We were pleased to able to support them in their training with our facilities and expertise in both medicine and sports science. 

“We are fortunate to have an environmental chamber that allows us to simulate extreme conditions in a controlled manner, with state-of-the-art equipment which monitored the safety and wellbeing of the MU Foundation trekking team.”