Courageous local teenager to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Rowcroft Hospice challenge

Andrew Morgan, a 15-year-old from Babbacombe, is preparing for the adventure of a lifetime as he joins a Rowcroft Hospice fundraising expedition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania this September.

Andrew will take on Africa’s highest peak alongside his mum Louise and dad Dan, with the family aiming to raise an incredible £5,000 for Rowcroft. The family is already around halfway to their target and are now calling on supporters to help them reach their fundraising goal.

Rowcroft Hospice holds deep personal meaning for Andrew and his family. The Hospice at Home Team supported them during the final weeks of life of Andrew’s beloved nan, Joy Lawrence, who passed away at home in Babbacombe in August 2022.

“She was our Queen,” said Andrew proudly. “She was a force of nature – she was up for anything, and she was totally hilarious. No matter how bad your day had been, you’d forget all about it when you went to see her.”

The experience of Rowcroft’s care left a deep impression on the then 11-year-old Andrew.

“The Rowcroft nurses made it less scary,” said Andrew. “They helped us make sense of everything and gave us time to say goodbye in our own way. I genuinely believe at the bottom of my heart that Rowcroft is absolutely the best hospice.

“I know Nan would be really proud of our challenge. Rowcroft cared for her so brilliantly, and this is my way of saying thank you.”

For Andrew, the climb is the latest in a long line of impressive hiking achievements. He has already completed the Three Peaks Challenge, West Highland Way, The Ten Tors Challenge, and made history as the youngest recorded person to complete all of Dartmoor’s tors – more than 200 in total.

“I love walking; it’s definitely a hobby,” said Andrew. “I’m quite an active person – I’ve done triathlons and I’m a keen swimmer, but Kilimanjaro is something completely different. I’m not worried about the walking itself, but I am a bit nervous about the altitude and lack of oxygen.”

The Lawrence Morgan family have been fundraising for Rowcroft by taking on a series of events including long-distance hikes and races, and even dressing up as dinosaurs! Louise previously volunteered at Rowcroft, and the family say they have seen first-hand the impact of hospice care across the community.

You can support the family’s challenge by donating via their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/louise-lawrence-123

Although all places on Rowcroft’s Kilimanjaro challenge are currently filled, the charity has a number of upcoming fundraising events, from an adventurous Sahara Desert expedition to an unforgettable Great Wall of China trek. These challenges help raise vital funds for people across South Devon facing life-limiting illnesses.

Molly Billingsley, Rowcroft Community and Challenges Fundraiser, said: “We are incredibly grateful to every single person who takes on a challenge for Rowcroft. Whether it’s a mountain, a desert, a half-marathon or a coastal walk, every effort makes a real difference to the families we support.”

To find out more about upcoming fundraising challenges and how to get involved, visit: www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk. To learn more about our upcoming Great Wall of China Trek 2027, visit: rowcrofthospice.org.uk/greatwall