At 85, Yuma man set on climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

YUMA, Ariz. — An 85-year-old Yuma man will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, for "a truly worthy cause" this month.

John Parish, a retired pastor, feels ready for the adventure. "I'm in very good health for 85½ years old."

"He's ready. Mentally, physically, he's all ready for this," his wife, Arline, added.

If Parish succeeds, he will be among the oldest men to reach the summit of the mountain with an elevation of 19,340 feet. An 84-year-old man from Washington State currently holds the official record, set it in 2011, according to World Records Academy.

Valtee Daniel, a Frenchman who reached the summit at 87, is accepted by some as the oldest man to climb Kilimanjaro.

However, Parish is quick to point out that setting a record, albeit unofficially, would be exciting, but it's not the reason he's doing it.

Parish is joining a group of 27 adventurers who are raising funds to help AIDS orphans in Africa. Tumaini International Ministries, based in Corona, Calif., is organizing the Kilimanjaro trek. The goal is for the team to raise $100,000.

Parish's goal is to raise at least $4,000 for the orphans. He will be covering his own expenses for the trip.

He noted that this is the organization's "idea of a fun fundraiser." The money will benefit children and teens whose parents have died of AIDS.

John and Arline already sponsor five orphans. They cover their education and everyday necessities such as food, medicine and clothing. Arline pointed out that high school is not free in Africa.

One of the orphans, Cosmas, is now a 22-year-old college student. Their other sponsored children are between 5 and 12 years old.

"What's different (about this organization) is that they don't take the children away from their villages. They leave them with their caretakers. It's better for them to stay there and help the country grow," Arline said.

Stanley Mutunga, Tumaini's president, invited Parish to join the climb. Parish could not turn down the challenge. He's an experienced hiker and mountain climber, having tackled several 14,000-foot mountains in the western United States, including Pikes Peak in Colorado.

Since Arline can't accompany him due to a bad back, Parish invited his daughter. Marilyn Parish, a police officer in Seattle, readily accepted.

"She promised she would take care of me," he said.