Broughshane man conquers Kilimanjaro in aid of Cancer Hospital

A native of Broughshane has conquered Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro, and helped raise £25,000 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital.

Last weekend Francois O’Neill was presented with a cheque for £1,300 for his efforts by the local Cleggan shooting party.

The chef restaurateur who is 27 and now owns and manages the Brompton Bar and Grill in central London is a regular visitor home to the Cleggan family estate. He told The Ballymena Times that he and his half brother Hugo Chittenden embarked on the Kilimanjaro trek earlier this year.

“Neither of us was fully prepared for the five day ascent to the 20,000ft summit but we were determined,” said Francois

The popular Cleggan shoot has been raising money for different charities for the past nine years.

Estate owner and father of Francois, Lord Rathcavan, says the generosity of the shooting party has meant a significant amount of money has been raised each year.

“We are delighted to complete the fundraising this season with a generous cheque from the Cleggan shoot participants for £1,300 and in particular I’d like to thank Alan Stewart for helping us raise the money,” said Lord Rathcavan.

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