Old Wheat Climbs Kilimanjaro For Georgie's Gift Charity

Former pupil Michael Douglas is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for the Georgie's Gift charity next month. We asked Michael more about this venture and how his career has progressed since leaving Bablake in 1998.

We are very impressed to hear you are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? What was the stimulus for this?

I am part of a team fundraising for Georgie's Gift, a charity set up in memory of Georgie Hall. Daughter of two of our mutual friends, she was only 23 months old when she fell ill in February 2015. Days later she passed away after being diagnosed with meningitis and septicaemia. Georgie’s parents realised they did not know enough about this horrible disease and, by setting up this charity, are hoping to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, as well as advise families to arrange the correct vaccination for their children's age. As new parents, my wife Becki (also a former pupil) and I felt we really wanted to support this charity.

What else will the Georgie's Gift charity do?

It hopes to provide support to children who have survived meningitis, but have been left with a disability that may impact on their ability to perform daily tasks. Money raised through Georgie's Gift will help pay towards providing children with support required for disabilities such as brain damage, amputation etc. Support may include funding prosthetic limbs, hearing aids or whatever else may be helpful.

Money raised will also help pay towards providing hospitals with support or equipment required to offer other children affected the chance of help from life-saving equipment. It may not be possible to fund all support required, however the charity endeavours to assist in relieving some of the financial and social burden by providing a 'gift from Georgie'.

We are always very proud of our former pupils and it is actions like this that make them stand out. While we are talking to you, would you be happy to tell us how your career has progressed since leaving Bablake as this is always interesting for peers, staff and current pupils (who are looking to establish future career paths)?

As well as my two brothers Jason (Coventry Park Run founder) and Garrath, I attended Bablake in the 90s. I then headed to Leeds Met (now Beckett) to study Sport and Leisure – the dream was to play rugby, but sometimes these things just do not work out.

After university, I had a variety of jobs to keep me going and find something I really enjoyed. Unfortunately my rapping and dancing ability did not make the grade, but I found a fantastic career a million miles away from anything I was ever interested in at school!

I have been working with investigating financial crime for around 12 years in the banking industry, and it is a job I can say I now really enjoy! My previous roles have led to visits to MI6 and the necessity to sign the official secrets act, which, according to Google, I think makes me James Bond.

A lot of my work has gathered increased focus, since the world in which we live has changed forever as a result of the terror attacks from the last 15 years. It is not always something I find easy to ponder, but I like to think in some small way I have helped limit some of the potential threats.

It has been exciting moving into a career that I never really knew much about or understood before, but being a sports player is about making decisions, learning and taking calculated risks. I am very pleased with my career and gained another professional qualification this year – not easy with a two year old, I can assure you! Thankfully my family was able to help me find the odd hour or two of study, which was much needed.

All the very best with the Mount Kilimanjaro climb! Are you in fine physical form for the venture, as 5 of our staff have just completed the 3 Peaks Challenge and found it tougher than they imagined? (Well, 4 did... Mr Tyas would have repeated it the next day and the one following!)

I ran the London Marathon in 2013, 9 weeks after keyhole surgery and it turns out with three small fractures - former rugby injuries! I am assured my body is in a better condition these days - I have also stopped just rubbing ointments onto sprains and rested them properly instead. Getting up at 5am each day to train before work is not too much fun, but I am hoping it has given me the grounding for this challenge. I am doing it as I was genuinely shaken when I heard of Georgie’s plight, especially with our son, Oakley, being a similar age.

I am part of a local team that is looking to hit a £100k target for 2016. The way in which Georgie's parents have responded is something I often struggle to comprehend, but the charity has already had a national impact on the provision of vaccinations against meningitis and I approach this latest challenge in the hope I can help those who have been through some extremely tough times.

We are so impressed with Michael and the aims of the charity, so once again wish him all the very best for next month.

To find out more about Michael's climb or to donate to the charity, please click here.

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Photo by Charlotte's Photo Studio.