72-year-old P.E.I. potato farmer to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity
A Prince Edward Island potato farmer is about to make the trek of a lifetime, to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
The 72-year-old’s bucket-list climb will support another passion project.
Barry Cudmore has been a farmer his whole life, working on his family farm, but he’s also been doing something a little bit more. For over 40 years, he’s been raising money to help people living in eastern Africa.
Cudmore is one of the original founders of Farmers Helping Farmers. The group supports farmers in Kenya with tools and techniques for better farming, as well as providing 3,000 meals a day for children in the country.
Farmers Helping Farmers has helped an estimated 100,000 people living in Kenya since it first started fundraising in 1980.
Cudmore usually hosts a summer barbecue to raise money, but COVID-19 threw a wrench in the works.
“And I thought, well if we’re a little bit short on those funds, maybe this is something that will draw people in,” said Cudmore. "They can follow my trek, and also be with me in a way, and making contributions towards our projects.”
At over 19,000 feet, Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and one of the only mountains of that height in the world you can summit without specialized climbing equipment.
“Some people I say I’m rather crazy to do this,” said Cudmore. “Some say I should be retired and not even farming, so I say, ‘Retire and do what?’ So, I might as well try and get to the top of Kilimanjaro.”
This isn’t the first serious climb the 72-year-old has taken. He trekked to the Mount Everest base camp in 2019, a well as peaks in Poland, Maine, and Alaska.
“Right now I just want to get at it and get it done, and let my life go back to some level normalcy,” said Cudmore. “All my waking hours, and most of my sleeping hours, it’s there and it won’t go away until we get it done.”
Cudmore has already raised around $2,000 for the cause. His goal is $19,341 -- $1 for each foot of the mountain's towering height.
Donations towards Cudmore's cause can be made online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Ontario urges mpox testing amid spike in cases
Ontario health officials are urging public health units to test for mpox, the viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, amid a spike of confirmed cases in the province.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Do these exercises for core strength if you can't stomach doing planks
Planks are one of the most effective exercises for strengthening your midsection, as they target all of your major core muscles: the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, external obliques and internal obliques. Yet despite the popularity of various 10-minute plank challenges, planking is actually one of the most dreaded core exercises, according to many fitness experts.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
'Don't expect any deals:' Expert says stores may not offer steep discounts on post-Easter chocolate
Those looking to snap up cheap treats at their local grocery store next week following the Easter long weekend could be in for a bit of a surprise as the rising cost of cocoa continues to drive up the price of chocolate, one expert says.