TO mark World Alzheimer’s Month, Nationwide Platforms is celebrating employee Ann-Marie Pease, who will be climbing Africa’s highest peak in January 2026 to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society.
World Alzheimer’s Month is a global campaign held every September to raise awareness of dementia and push for progress on research, care, and prevention.
Ann-Marie’s inspiration to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is deeply personal as her mother lives with vascular dementia, a condition closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
“Choosing Alzheimer’s Society was a no-brainer,” she explained. “I’ve seen first-hand the difficulties of living with and alongside this disease, and I know how important it is to ensure we invest as much as possible into treating it and mitigating the suffering it can cause.”
Based at the company’s London east depot, Ann-Marie works as a hire desk controller, having joined the business nearly six years ago as a temp before progressing into her current role.
Next January, she will travel to Tanzania to begin her eight-day ascent of Kilimanjaro, a 5,895m dormant volcano known for its extreme altitude shifts, variable terrain, and unpredictable climate.
“I’ve always enjoyed endurance challenges – I’ve run the Great North Run and other half-marathons – but this will be something entirely different,” she added.
Ann-Marie trains every weekend, clocking up 40-mile treks over back-to-back days and waking before 5am to hike hilly routes in all weathers. While the physical demands are considerable, she says the real challenge lies higher up.
“Altitude sickness is the wild card. You can be as fit as possible, but it doesn’t guarantee anything at that height. I’ve added an extra acclimatisation day into the route to improve my chances, and I’ll be climbing at a measured pace to keep my breathing steady.”
Ann-Marie’s trek will cover over 45 hours on foot, passing from 30°C tropical terrain to -15°C icy summit conditions. Her final summit push begins at midnight, with a three-mile climb that can take up to 10 hours through darkness and thin air.
Nationwide Platforms has already contributed to her fundraising goal, and Ann-Marie is hoping to raise £2,000 via her JustGiving page.
“I’m doing it to show that anyone can step outside their comfort zone for something they care about. Whether it’s Alzheimer’s or any other cause, there’s power in doing something hard, something that scares you a bit. Pushing yourself to help others is always a good thing to do. “I want this to be a message to everyone living with dementia and their families: You are not alone. We see you, and we’re climbing for you.”
To support Ann-Marie’s challenge, visit her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ann-marie-pease-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM.
