Harley Cunningham set out to raise £3,000 for Cruse Bereavement Support by climbing Kilimanjaro in memory of her son James. 230 donations took it past £13,000.
A Woking mother who climbed Kilimanjaro in memory of her two-year-old son has raised more than four times her target for the charity that supported her.
Harley Cunningham’s JustGiving page stood at £13,264.83 on Thursday 15 October. She had set a target of £3,000 for Cruse Bereavement Support.
Why she climbed
Her son James died aged two. This year marks five years since his death.
On her fundraising page she writes that “losing James shattered my world”. She says Cruse helped her “begin to piece life back together”. That support led her to train as a bereavement counsellor. She now volunteers with Cruse, supporting other grieving families.
Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres. Her page lists the trek for 17 September. She travelled on her own and climbed with people she had never met.
“Every step I take will be for James and for all the families who need Cruse’ care in their own heartbreak,” she wrote before setting off.
BBC Surrey, which spoke to her after the climb, reported that she is from Woking and reached the summit.
What the appeal has raised
The page’s donation summary shows:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Given online | £12,764.83 |
| Given offline | £500.00 |
| Total | £13,264.83 |
| Gift Aid on top | £2,959.50 |
That total came from 230 donations. With Gift Aid, Cruse stands to receive more than £16,000.
What it means for you
- To donate: the Kili4James page is still open and takes donations until 16 December 2026. Money goes straight to Cruse, a registered charity (number 208078).
- If you are grieving: Cruse’s free helpline is 0808 808 1677. Its website has information on grief and how to find support.
- To get involved: Cruse’s fundraising team takes enquiries about volunteering and fundraising at fundraising@cruse.org.uk, as the charity’s JustGiving profile sets out.
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