University News Last updated 05 May 2010
A Birmingham City University academic who has battled skin cancer is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for charity.
Dr Celia Popovic, Head of Educational Staff Development at the University’s Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008. Fewer than 18 months after her diagnosis she is in training to tackle the world’s largest free standing mountain, standing at 5,895m.
She is hoping to raise the money for the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre based in Pill just outside Bristol, where she was treated. Celia said: “My visit to the Centre saved my life. When I was first diagnosed I was in a state of shock, I was supposed to be travelling to America the next day and the last thing I expected was to receive the news that I had cancer. Treatment was hard and invasive, but a visit to Penny Brohn Cancer Care provided me with the tools I needed to manage and reduce the symptoms of the side effects. I found I was able to cope better with the emotional aspects of the diagnosis and I regained the control in my life”.
Kilimanjaro isn’t the first charity fundraiser Celia has undertaken; she has already run two half marathons. Celia, and her two co-climbers, Judy Freeman and Nigel Bishop, are aiming to raise £8,500 in sponsorship, if you would like to support their efforts then please visit their fundraising page