Kingsclere woman to climb Africa's highest mountain in bid for record books

Imogen Brown, aged 20, a former pupil of St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury, and Kingsclere Primary School, is joining a group of 19 people, all of whom suffer from type 1 diabetes disease, who are hoping to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the charity JDRF, which aims to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
They are also hoping to make the record books by becoming the largest team of people living with the disease to climb the mountain.
Miss Brown, who gives herself daily injections to manage her blood glucose levels and who is studying philosophy and Spanish at the University of Sheffield, also waitresses at Highclere Castle’s tearooms during her holidays.
She said that she had decided on the adventure in a bid to, among other things, eradicate a few myths about the disease.
“Living with a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes doesn’t have to necessarily stop you from achieving whatever you set out to do.
“I did not get type 1 diabetes from eating a poor diet or leading an unhealthy lifestyle – this is an autoimmune condition that I could not prevent.”
Her preparation for the African trip has included twice climbing Mount Snowdon and training at the weekends on the South Downs and in the Snowdonia National Park.
Her family are fully supportive of the challenge, particularly as medical staff will be on hand to assist if necessary.
Others joining the group, who also live with the condition and support JDRF, include professional snowboarder Chris Southwell and Becky Botham-Armstrong, the daughter of former England test cricket team captain, Sir Ian Botham.
To sponsor Miss Brown, visit

/ImogenBrown.