IN six months a 21-year-old from Tetbury will be looking up at a 5,895-meter-high mountain.

Oli Jones is hoping that, seven days later, he will be looking down the 5,895 meters - from the top of Kilimanjaro.

Oli, a former head boy from Sir William Romney’s School, Tetbury, will tackle Africa’s tallest mountain in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation.

He is part of a team of 57 students from Loughborough University who are taking on the Tanzanian mountain in a bid to raise £150,000 for the charity.

Oli, of Court Field, Tetbury, has already raised £1,500 of his £3,000 target including £811 from bucket collecting on the London Underground, bag packing in supermarkets and a Christmas raffle.

He has also been helped by students at his former school who have donated the £125 proceeds of the Xmas Fayre.

“Approximately 25 000 people attempt to summit Kilimanjaro annually – and only two-thirds are successful. Altitude-related problems are the most common reasons climbers turn back,” Oli said.

 “Many people don't know what meningitis is, and how it affects people. If my team reaches the huge fundraising target we will be able to help with developing understanding of the disease and provide support services for those suffering with meningitis and septicaemia.

“I’m so proud that my former school has helped contribute towards funding something so important.”

As well as being the tallest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free standing mountain in the world as it is not part of any range. 

The Meningitis Research Foundation funds the prevention of meningitis and septicaemia, and carries out research to improve survival rates and outcomes.

In addition, it promotes education and awareness of these diseases among the most affected social groups, of which students are the second highest ‘at risk ‘group.