Group have high hopes for bold charity mission

10:12am Sunday 29th June 2008

WHEN John and Zoe Taylor lost their two-day-old child, their world turned upside down.

Zoe developed pre-eclampsia during her pregnancy and the child had to be delivered at 27 weeks in June 2000.

Their baby, Jack, died of an infection two days later.

On Wednesday Mr Taylor, of Hazelcombe, in Overton, will scale Mount Meru in Tanzania to raise money for the UK's only charity for the condition, Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC).

A director at Tenon in Basingstoke, Mr Taylor and five friends will fly out to Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, before moving on to Tanzania on Wednesday, hoping to scale the 14,980ft summit in three days.

The group - including Nick Parker, David Brookes and Mark Lucas, who are also directors at Tenon - have raised £12,000 for the charity and are setting their sights on a £20,000 target.

Also in the group are Karen Counterman and David Bickford. Mr Bickford is a partner at Penningtons in Basingstoke.

Mr Taylor said: "The climb is going to be intense and I'm pretty scared of heights, so to be honest, I'm trying not to think about it.

"When I told people what happened to our baby Jack, they were really supportive and it encouraged other people to take part."

Last month, most of the group tackled the three peaks of England, Scotland and Wales in preparation. Mr Taylor has lost three-and-a-half stone since beginning a fitness regime in November last year.

The 39-year-old added that for an inexperienced mountaineer there are some challenges.

"There is a vertiginous ledge about two-and-a-half-people wide and also a volcanic ridge.

"A big risk is also altitude sickness for which the only cure is to get down the mountain," he said.

The exact cause of pre-eclampsia is unknown and up to one in 10 women develop it while pregnant. Its only cure is to deliver the baby, which puts some babies at risk of death by prematurity.

Since Jack's death, the couple have been blessed with a daughter, Maddie, who will be seven in September.

Mr Taylor said: "Unfortunately the condition affects so many people, but the charity is seriously under-funded and virtually unknown.

"Hopefully we can help add to the charity's funds and raise some awareness about the condition as well."

To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/mountkenya4jack