Scaling biggest peak for those who can't

SKY'S THE LIMIT: Geraldine's Kelly Muirden is set to scale Aoraki-Mt Cook in December to raise money for Arthritis New Zealand.

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Kelly Muirden has always had high hopes – about as high as Aoraki-Mt Cook.

Since she was 12 years old, climbing the 3754-metre mountain has been her goal. But the feat has been made a little more special by Ms Muirden's plan to raise money for Arthritis New Zealand while she scales the mountain in December.

The Geraldine marketing contractor knows what it's like for people with arthritis to get through everyday activities – her mother has had rheumatoid arthritis for 24 years.

"Her continuous positive outlook and not willing to let anything get her down has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me to want to give anything a go," Ms Muirden said.

While she has always been involved in outdoor activities, mountain climbing has not yet been ticked on her to-do list.

"I don't have heaps of climbing experience. I first saw Aoraki-Mt Cook when I was about 12. I was looking up at it and thinking, `I want to climb it one day'."

Ms Muirden said she felt lucky to be able to go tramping, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing and skiing, while one in every six New Zealanders over the age of 15 gets arthritis in their lifetime and has difficulty with everyday tasks.

She has grown up watching her mother struggle with walking and not being able to jump or run.

"Arthritis cripples your joints. I thought: `why not give back to people who can't do these things?"'

Over the last three months, Ms Muirden has been training for the climb, which has been scheduled for December 13 to December 16, by running up Mt Peel with a heavy pack, tramping and mountain biking. She will do a training course at the start of December to prepare for the adventure – though she will be guided by an experienced mountain climber for the whole journey.

"I want to climb, but who knows what's going to happen? It's not a normal thing to do. Not only do you have to be very fit but you have to have the right mindset, too."

Ms Muirden hopes her fundraising efforts will stay in the Geraldine region to help local arthritis sufferers.

You can make a donation online by visiting wildfiresolutions.co.nz. Donations can also be made at Golden Harvest, the Butchery, Crown Hotel, Liquorland and Barkers of Geraldine.

- © Fairfax NZ News