John’s Kilimanjaro Climb: Raising Awareness, One Step at a Time.
This October, 65-year-old John, the founder of The Ootsider, will be standing at the foot of Africa’s tallest mountain with one mission in mind: to climb Kilimanjaro and raise funds to donate 300 sleeping coats to people experiencing rough sleeping across the UK.
Because for John, this isn’t just about a mountain – it’s about a movement.
🧭 Why He’s Climbing
John could have taken it easy at 65. Instead, he’s training hard – walking daily, hitting the gym, and pushing his limits – all to shine a light on the growing crisis of homelessness in the UK. He’s not doing this for the thrill or for the glory. He’s doing it because he believes that everyone deserves warmth, dignity, and to feel like they matter.
And that’s what The Ootsider is all about.
🧥 Our Mission: Coats That Change Lives
At The Ootsider, we hand-make changing robes and weatherproof sleeping coats right here in Scotland. For every coat sold, we reinvest the profits into producing sleeping coats that are donated, free of charge, to people living rough on our streets.
So far, our impact has grown one coat at a time – but we want to do more. John’s Kilimanjaro challenge is a bold step towards making that happen.
⛰️ Why Kilimanjaro?
Because homelessness, especially rough sleeping, is one of the hardest mountains to climb.
It’s steep. It’s isolating. And for many, it feels impossible to overcome. John’s journey to the summit is symbolic of the uphill battle so many face just to survive another night on the streets. This climb represents hope, strength, and belief – values often out of reach for those who need them most.
💛 How You Can Help
John may be climbing alone, but he can’t do this without you.
Your support can help us:
- Fund the materials and production of 300 donated sleeping coats
- Reach rough sleepers in more cities across the UK
- Raise awareness about the human cost of homelessness
- Donate to our GoFundMe campaign (direct link below)
🚶♂️ Follow the Journey
John is documenting his training and climb on social media – and trust us, you’ll want to cheer him on every step of the way.
👉 Follow us:
Instagram: @the_ootsider
Facebook: The Ootsider
TikTok: theootsider
🌍 Be Part of the Climb
- Donate what you can
- Share this story with your community
- Support a mission that keeps people warm, seen, and valued
This climb is more than a personal challenge – it’s a call to action.
Let’s help John reach the summit, and in doing so, lift others off the cold ground and into something warmer, safer, and more human.
Join us. Let’s make this journey count.
– The Ootsider Team
