GAIL Carlisle has always wanted to do something meaningful, so she is heading to East Africa early next month to climb Kilimanjaro as a fund-raiser for Irish Injured Jockeys and the Children’s Heartbeat Trust.

The latter charity was chosen by Gail following the sad death of her cousin Catherine McNally’s son Leo. Leo had been due to undergo heart surgery when he tragically succumbed to a chest infection at the age of one and a half.

Forever associated in the eyes of the racing world with the great Hurricane Fly, Gail took a bit of a break from the sport following his retirement but returned to riding out last spring.

“I based myself with Peter Maher and Caroline Woods and it was great being in a small yard where they take things a bit easier.

“At the weekends, I could come in whenever I wanted, get the work done and then go off hiking which is something I discovered I really love. Even now, while doing a lot of sales work, I try to get out every Sunday and most Saturdays.

“We do a lot around Glendalough but, last Saturday, our group, which is a real mix of people, went from Wicklow to Greystones along the coast where there was a lovely breeze. That was about 20k and we did another 15k on Sunday.”

Having worked for Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House Stud at the Land Rover and Derby Sales, Gail took some time off to visit home.

She got a lot of sympathy from this quarter when she said she was bringing in hay but stated: “It was okay. There was only a small amount of small bales that had to put away.

“My dad mainly does large round bales which involved machinery and I spent most of the time driving the tractor!”

Ahead of her departure for Africa, Carlisle’s fitness work will be on the level next week as she is heading over to Newmarket on Monday to help with the Castlebridge Consigment’s huge number of horses at the July Sales.

Gail is travelling to Tanzania with the Dublin-based adventure travel company Earth’s Edge and arrives there on her birthday, August 2nd.

The 12-day trip includes seven days on the mountain itself, five up and two down.

While some might choose not to after all their exertions, Gail is going to end her trip with a one-day safari before flying back to Dublin.

Gail is covering the cost of the entire trip herself so that all funds raised can go to the two charities.

To support Gail in her efforts, please log into https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/aiming-high-on-kilimanjaro-to-support-2-great-causes