Jonathan Brewin, the director of Age Concern Bermuda and chairman of its audit and risk committee, is taking some risks of his own in support of seniors.

Mr Brewin sets off on Friday with his son, Somers, to take on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak — a journey that takes five to nine days.

The 16,000ft mountain in Tanzania, East Africa, reaches its coldest in March, and climbers who reach the summit should prepare to encounter snow.

Donations for the climb are being raised to support Age Concern, Bermuda’s primary non-profit advocacy group for senior citizens.

According to Mr Brewin, who has been following those who have climbed the infamous mountain, “the challenge will be one of the hardest physical and mental challenges I shall experience in my lifetime”.

“I really want Age Concern to benefit because the success of how we deal with the ageing of our population is also one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Several months of preparation are needed for the hike.

Despite the risks, the duo are committed to use their climb to underscore the message that the realities of ageing can be tackled proactively.

Claudette Fleming, the executive director of Age Concern, said: “When Jonathan shared that he and Somers were climbing Kilimanjaro and that proceeds would aid Age Concern, I was very surprised. He is an active board member and already does so much for the organisation; he could easily have chosen one of the many other good causes that exist on the island.

“However, in light of the serious impact that our changing demographics are having on the systems and families in our community, he and fellow board members are passionate about our advocacy message.

“We must tackle the ageing of our society head on and this climb is example of the tenacity that is needed to do it.”

Mr Brewin has a minimum target of £5,000 or $6,500. The funds will be used to support another set of sojourners, our country’s caregivers.

Age Concern hosts an annual, daylong Caregiving Summit equipping caregivers with resources and information to support their older loved ones at home.

Caregivers are vitally important part of addressing the ageing of our population, as they provide compassionate, cost-effective care that reduces the tax payer burden of care.

They are the unsung heroes of our time.

Linda Smith, the chairwoman of Age Concern, said: “We are looking forward to the public’s support as the work of Age Concern will need the support of the community.

“We wish Jonathan and Somers the best outcome, and encourage the public to make a contribution to this great effort.”

Donations can be made to their GoFundMe page (gf.me/u/qv95ip). You can find the GoFundMe link on Age Concern’s Facebook page, and via its Twitter account, @ageconcernbda.

The group can be reached by telephone at 238-7525, e-mail at info@ageconcern.bm, and the website www.ageconcern.bm