A former serviceman hopes to raise £20,000 by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro - while carrying a fridge.<br /><br />Michael Copeland, 39, will take on the huge 19340ft (5,895m) elevation with a household appliance weighing roughly 30kg on his back next month.<br /><br />The ex-Grenadier Guard previously summited the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in under 24 hours to raise cash for mental health charity Mind.<br /><br />But he believes the challenge of reaching the pinnacle in North Eastern Tanzania in support of the foundation will be his toughest yet.<br /><br />Michael said: “I don’t think I can take the fridge physically any higher than Kilimanjaro, so this is a big statement to try and raise funds and awareness.<br /><br />“It’s a seven-day hike with a 30kg box on your back. It will take about five days to get to the top.<br /><br />“The altitude is probably the hardest challenge, and that final summit day is actually the killer."<br /><br />Michael, a dad-of-two from Stafford, began his incredible awareness campaign two years ago when he climbed up Snowdon while carrying a fridge full of beer.<br /><br />He had felt “lost” after leaving the army in 2007, which he joined as a teenager, and struggled with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.<br /><br />But he said taking the fridge - measuring 31.5 inches (80cm) tall and 15.5 inches (40cm) wide - over Britain’s highest peaks had helped him to start a wider conversation about mental health.<br /><br />He said: “Everyone always asks the same question: ‘Why a fridge?’ <br /><br />“But the answer is always the same. It’s not about the fridge, it could have been any very awkward object. It’s what it represents – mental health. <br /><br />"It’s very awkward and very heavy on your shoulders, and it’s awkward to talk about. <br /><br />“So the fridge is a way to get people talking and opening up about their mental health.”<br /><br />Michael, who has now climbed more than 25 British mountains with his fridge, will start his ascent of Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, on March 18.<br /><br />He will take all his supplies, including camping gear and clothes, inside the white cooler, which will be strapped to his back using a harness.<br /><br />Michael said his travel company had managed to source him a fridge in Tanzania, so he doesn’t have to lug his appliance all the way from the UK.<br /><br />But he said it was still very usual for people to bring such heavy loads to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain.<br /><br />Michael added: “The normal climbers aren’t allowed to carry more than 15kg. I’ve got to sign a waiver saying I can carry more than 20kg. <br /><br />"The fridge is slightly bigger than the one I’ve got. It’s about 50mm higher, 50mm wider and a little bit deeper.<br /><br />“I’ve got to take my carrying frame and my harness with me, and I’ve got an extra day to acclimatize when I get there.”<br /><br />Visit https://givestar.io/gs/kilimanjaro-mountains-for-mental-health? to donate.<br /><br />Michael's is documenting his progress on his social media accounts - https://www.facebook.com/michael.copeland.106 and https://www.instagram.com/thefridge_man/
