Getting to know: Kelly’s Heroes Climb Kilimanjaro – Andy Ball

As part of the Kelly’s Heroes Climb Kilimanjaro charity fundraiser, we are getting to know the team taking on the incredible challenge between 12-21 September 2024.

Next up is Joint MD of Balls2 Marketing and Founder Director of the Joinery Network, Andy Ball!

Name: Andy Ball  

Job title: Joint MD & Founder Director  

Company: Balls2 Marketing & The Joinery Network  

How long you’ve been there? 14 / 5 years  

How long have you been in the glazing industry in total?  25 years 

Why are you climbing Kilimanjaro? Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list for a while, and this was a great opportunity to climb it to support Kelly’s Heroes.  

How are you preparing? This year I have been doing 1 or 2 walks a week of around 8-14 miles with a minimum of 1,200 foot of elevation to get prepared for the longer days of climbing. The training of both Snowdon and Scafell was good to meet up with other team members.   

What are you least looking forward to? I think like everyone, it’s the altitude I’m most concerned about because no one knows how they are going to be affected.  

What are you most looking forward to? Getting to the summit and seeing the sunrise. It will all be worth it at that moment!  

What does Kelly’s Heroes mean to you? I was support on the European Ride in 2022 for the European leg of The Loneliest Road. I heard too many tragic stories from people we met who have experienced family and friends that died by suicide. I also listened to how Kelly’s Heroes had helped people through their losses, and it showed the importance of the work of the charity.