Kilimanjaro Team Raises £100,000 at Ditchling Vineyard
A Sussex vineyard hosted a celebration with a difference on Sunday evening. More than 30 climbers — including TV personality Anthea Turner, celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton and Daniel Lustig — gathered at Everflyht Vineyard in Ditchling, West Sussex, to mark raising over £100,000 for UK anti-bullying charity Coram Kidscape, following their successful summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in early February 2026.
The event was organised by Sussex-based consultancy Bright Cause, who led the fundraising and awareness campaign marking Kidscape’s 40th anniversary year.
Everflyht Vineyard Ditchling — The Venue
Everflyht Vineyard sits in the village of Ditchling at the foot of the South Downs — one of Sussex’s most scenic settings, just 8 miles north of Brighton. The Ditchling vineyard provided an intimate backdrop for a team that had spent days trekking through extreme altitude on Africa’s highest peak.
Ditchling itself is one of the most visited villages in East Sussex — known for the Ditchling Beacon viewpoint, the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, and its position on the South Downs Way. The vineyard adds another reason to visit.
The Climb
In early February 2026, the team successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 metres — trekking through freezing night temperatures, extreme altitude and physical exhaustion over multiple days. The expedition was delivered in partnership with Uncharted Summits.
The campaign was built around a powerful idea: that bullying can feel like a mountain that young people cannot escape. The climb was designed to spotlight that experience — and raise funds to support Kidscape’s work with children, families and schools across the UK.
The Ditchling Vineyard Celebration
Guests at Everflyht Vineyard heard personal reflections from climbers about the physical and emotional challenge of the ascent, alongside insight into the forthcoming feature documentary — The Roof of Africa: Bullied — The Mountain We Face — which captured the full journey from preparation to summit.
A series of summit awards were presented on the evening:
- Uhuru Spirit Award — Cerri McDonald, for unstoppable determination
- Pole Pole Award — Christopher Tipping, for embracing Kilimanjaro’s slow-and-steady pace
- Layer Cake Award — Tracey Harris, for outstanding wardrobe commitment
- Best Morale Booster — Paul Brogden
- Overpacker Award — Ollie Keuhne
- Still Smiling Somehow Award — Simon Woodjetts
- Mama Simba — Rosee Elliott, the oldest team member at 75, recognised for her strength and steady leadership throughout the expedition
£100,000 for Kidscape
Funds raised will directly support Coram Kidscape’s work providing practical advice, specialist support and training to children, families and schools across the UK. Founded in 1985, Kidscape is one of the UK’s longest-standing bullying prevention charities — and 2026 marks its 40th anniversary year.
Lucy Black, Founder of Bright Cause: “This campaign shows what’s possible when the right people come together around a cause that truly matters. From Sussex to the summit of Kilimanjaro, raising over £100,000 for Kidscape is something everyone involved should be immensely proud of — and with The Roof of Africa: Bullied — The Mountain We Face set to premiere later this year, the impact of this climb is only just beginning.”
More information at https://www.brightcause.org.uk/news/kilimanjaro-team-celebrate-105000-raised-for-kidscape-at-after-climb-after-chat-event
The Documentary
The entire expedition was filmed and will form the basis of The Roof of Africa: Bullied — The Mountain We Face, expected to premiere at a London red-carpet screening later in 2026. The documentary is produced by Bright Cause in partnership with Uncharted Summits, supported by headline sponsors Prospect13 and Wizz Air.
VIP Experience at Everflyht Vineyard Ditchling
The Ditchling vineyard evening reflected the spirit of the climb itself — personal, purposeful and celebratory. Everflyht Vineyard, with its South Downs backdrop and intimate setting, provided exactly the right environment for a team reflecting on what they had achieved together — both on the mountain and for the young people Kidscape supports.
Photography: Kate Lucas | instagram.com/kate_lucas_photo | katelucasphotography.co.uk
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