Savvi Travel boss to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro for baby loss charity

Savvi Travel director Kay Batley is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro weeks before her 64th birthday in a challenge she says will “push me out of my comfort zone”.

Batley, who owns four shops, will tackle the trek up Africa’s highest mountain over 10 days in August with specialist tour operator Legend Expeditions.

“Before I decided to do this, Kilimanjaro was not on my bucket list,” she said. “I’ll be a month off 64 and out of my comfort zone. I’m a ‘lie in the Maldives’ lady while my husband brings the cocktails.”

Batley, of North Northamptonshire, is aiming to raise at least £2,000 for baby loss charity Sands, which she described as “close to my heart” because of the experiences of family and close friends.

She said: “My daughter-in-law’s first baby Eli was sadly stillborn at 26 weeks and Sands was incredibly helpful at that time.

“They also gave invaluable support during her [following] pregnancy with William, born happy and healthy and now five years old.”

After signing up for the trek at the start of the year, Batley has been carrying out a training programme including gym work.

“I’m trying to get my walking in, but it’s hard taking days out for hills when you work full-time,” she said, adding that a StairMaster stationary fitness machine is playing a key role in her preparations.

Batley decided to tackle the 5,895-metre Tanzanian peak after meeting Legend Expeditions founder Jack Fleckney and inviting him to the Oundle Travel Show last November.

“He came to our show and people were in awe,” said Batley. “He’s such a lovely guy and I was hooked straight away.”

When asked about trading, Batley said it had been a “mixed bag” across Savvi Travel’s stores, noting challenges linked to the Gulf conflict.

“We’ve had our peaks and troughs,” she said. “It seems really funny. We think people aren’t travelling long-haul and then we get a nice big long-haul booking. And then we get other people who are cancelling their trip to Italy. It’s different day to day.”

The shops are based in Oakham, Rutland; Olney, Buckinghamshire; Hitchin, Hertfordshire; and Oundle, Northamptonshire.

Batley, who will be taking the Lemosho Route up the mountain from August 6-15, is raising money through a webpage.