Kilimanjaro Documentary - Darren's Storyboard

The Kilimanjaro documentary got a fantastic reaction when it was aired on RTE 1 in a prime time slot on July 18 2011. It was only broadcast within Ireland and for the benefit of the overseas fans, and those of you who would like to re-live the precious memories, we now bring you Darren's documentary storyboard.

This is the story of

The Climb for Kids

A group of Irish climbers set out to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro and raise one quarter of a million Euros for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin.

First the paperwork needed to be done to allow them in to Africa, that meant attending a medical briefing and having those dreaded shots.

"Great, it wasn't too bad!"

My boy lollipop! He got his reward for being brave!

"Awesome"

"We're here!!!"

"The basic thing is to pace yourself. It's not a race, nobody's out to prove anything you know, we're all here for the common goal, we're all here to help each other."

Before they set off on day one, they did some basic stretches to get the blood moving and help them sleep better.

At the Machame Gate, where they were about to start the climb, Darren couldn't resist a little joke.

"It was a wonderful experience, it wasn't that high after all, have fun!!"

There was a lot of nervous laughter on day one, but how were they really feeling?

"Very good, very good so far.
Happy days, beautiful"

"African Vodka"








"Day 1 over"

Darren Holden has performed on some of the worlds biggest stages but Kilimanjaro is certainly a unique venue. 

 

"As I was going over the Cork and Kerry mountains"
The singing on the mountain was cut with footage of Adam and the High Kings on the Late Late Show the night before Darren set off. They also blended Adam's voice with the live singing on the mountain so that he was 'singing' with them. A touching moment.

"Maybe you love me, but now I'm not so sure"


"That's the wrong words already, see it's way too early for a song"

 

"In the year of our lord 1806, we set sail from the Coal Quay of Cork
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the Grand City Hall in New York
'We'd an elegant craft
She was rigged fore and aft
And oh, how the wild winds drove her
She had twenty seven masts
and withstood several blasts
And they called her The Irish Rover"

 

"Yesterday was tough in places, but you know we made it. Unfortunately Karl abandoned ship but he gave it his all, we are all very very proud of him. But at the same time it's at the back of our minds that maybe this is a lot more tougher than any of us anticipated"

  

"There was a lot of climbing today, by the time I got to lunch I was in a heap. I just went in to the tent there a minute ago and had like a head rush and I'm like...  But I'd say I'd be OK"

Yippee!! I can't wait, it's gonna be great.

We should just do it now, a quick cuppa and off we go"

 



"It's not that big!!! Ha ha!!"

Darren hits the Barranco Wall, a day of serious climbing up a rock face without the aid of ropes and picks.

"Without a doubt the most physically and mentally challenging thing I have ever done in my life, bar none, and probably will ever do"

"We're about to set off on the night trek to the actual summit. It's what we all came to do. We are all very disorientated at the moment and don't know if we are coming of going. Having said that, it's an amazing adventure. Just getting out of the tents and seeing the stars, it's almost within touching distance tonight, absolutely amazing. I think the feeling is optimistic, we are going to do this."

After months of training the Climb for Kids team has reached the top of Africa. It has taken just four and a half days of intense physical and mental strength to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free standing mountain.

 "Out of breath, unbelievable, I am just so happy to see this"

"It's just an unreal feeling. It just seemed like it was so far away and we pulled it off"

"We did it Adam, we did it!!"

The summit, it had taken 10 hours having left the camp in darkness at 1am.

"Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me away from you"

Yes he was still singing!!

There was just time for a group photo before they started the descent. They were facing another 5 hours of walking, adapting to the thickening air, with their aching joints and muscles.

 

We made it!

The summit of Kilimanjaro rises up 5895 metres above sea level. There is only half the amount of oxygen that there is at sea level.

"I work out quite a bit, but there was plenty of times yesterday when I really really wanted to give up."

"Toto have a great song called Africa, it was a massive hit in the 80's. Great, great song and it suits everybody down to the ground here."

"As wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti"

The Climb for Kids team returned to Ireland to a fantastic welcome, very proud at what they had achieved. They learned when they arrived that they had indeed already raised over 250,000 Euros for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. Hopefully with 365,000 households confirmed as watching this documentary, that figure would have increased significantly helping the sick kids of Ireland in need of their care.