It’s not every day someone you work with decides to climb the highest mountain in Africa … but that’s exactly what Ally Carroll is doing.

We’re incredibly proud (and honestly a bit in awe) to share that Ally is taking part in the St Jude’s Kili Trek 2026, a 12-day journey that’s about much more than just reaching the summit.

Before even setting foot on the mountain, Ally will spend time visiting the St Jude’s school campuses in Tanzania, meeting students and seeing firsthand the impact of the organisation’s work. Then comes the big one … the climb to Uhuru Peak, sitting at a staggering 5,895 metres above sea level.

So what made Ally say yes to something this huge?

A little bit of fate, it turns out.

Having planned to climb Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago, the opportunity to do it for a meaningful cause felt like the perfect moment to finally make it happen.

“Seeing firsthand where the funds are allocated is very important to me. Being able to spend three days at the school with the children is so special. I love St Jude’s mission to break the cycle of poverty by educating one family member, they can help improve the lives of their whole family.”

And the impact is real.

In Tanzania, seven out of ten secondary school-aged children are not in school, missing out on education, employment opportunities and a pathway out of poverty.

The School of St Jude is working to change that by providing free, quality education to 1,800 students and supporting more than 400 graduates into higher education. These students are becoming the engineers, doctors, teachers and leaders their communities need.

As for the trek itself … this isn’t Ally’s first challenge.

She’s previously completed Kokoda, no small feat, but even she admits this one will push her in a whole new way.

“I believe this will be equally as challenging as Kokoda, but this time I’ll be reaching an altitude of 5,895 metres above sea level, which will be my greatest challenge yet.”

We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way (and probably checking the altitude stats a bit nervously).If you’d like to support Ally and the incredible work of St Jude’s, you can DONATE HERE.