A NATIONWIDE employee has finally returned from the trip of a lifetime hiking up one of the world’s highest mountains.

Jo Kearsley, 47, from Upper Stratton, last month climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain – to raise funds for homeless charity Threshold.

Jo, who has worked as a risk analyst at Nationwide’s Pipers Way offices for the past three years, described the challenge as the hardest thing she has ever had to do, made all the more difficult with her suffering from asthma.

She flew out to Tanzania on February 2 and returned a couple of weeks later to a hero’s welcome from friends and colleagues.

Jo said: “It was on my bucket list of things to do and I thought I needed to get it done soon because I’m getting older and it would be quite taxing on my body.

“When we got there and started walking, the weather was very hot and it took us around four and a half hours to reach camp.”

As well as a troupe of trusty guides, Jo was joined on the trip by three other people, all Americans, who had been in the country for a few months previously.

“It was a huge relief to get the first day over with,” said Jo. “It was really tough going and I knew it wouldn’t get any easier.”

Unfortunately, due to Jo’s asthma she was unable to reach the summit. But at 5,200 metres she certainly did herself proud.

“I had the best time of my life but it was the hardest thing I have ever done, and one of the most emotional things.

“It takes such a toll on your body. I’m a bit disappointed not to have made it to the top, but I did the best I could possibly have done.”

She self-funded the trip and drummed up support on Facebook and through colleagues at work. As a result of her fundraising efforts, she managed to make a very impressive £2,500 for Threshold.

Speaking about why she decided to fundraise for Threshold, a charity which provides emergency accommodation for homeless people in Swindon, Jo said: “People don’t seem to give much regard to people living on the streets, and they need our help.

“These are people who had normal lives before everything went wrong. I think it’s important to raise awareness as well as funds and for people to do all they can to support charities such as Threshold.”

Staff at Nationwide often engage in fundraising activities. Each department chooses a charity to support and people get behind it with various fun and original fundraising drives.