BURNLEY fan Mark Davidson made sure he was wearing his Clarets' shirt when he scaled the heights of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

Mark, 31, said: "Another Burnley supporter, Steve Geoghegan took a Burnley flag more than 17,000 feet high in the Himalayas but last month I reached 18,640 feet, just short of the Kilimanjaro summit, which was too dangerous because of melting ice around the rim of the volcano crater.

"I wonder if any other Clarets' fan has taken a Burnley shirt or flag higher.''

Mark's achievement was all the more remarkable as he suffers from cerebral palsy.

He has been a Burnley fan all his life and a season ticket holder for 24 years.

Originally from Simonstone, he now lives in London where he works as a computer programmer. He attended school at St John's, Padiham, St Augustine's, Billington, Accrington and Rossendale College and Huddersfield Polytechnic.

He started work in computer programming last year after spending a year in the United States.

Mark still travels to all Burnley home games and also attends away matches whenever possible.

He said: "I used to attend all home and away matches but I have had to miss some away games recently because of other commitments.''

Mark is now planning to travel to the Himalayas the year after next to tackle Mera Peak at 21,500 feet, where he again hopes to fly the Burnley flag.

He said: "Although I have cerebral palsy it doesn't stop me, although I must confess I was totally shattered up the mountain.'' Mark's immediate hopes are that Burnley can climb high enough to avoid relegation.

And the Burnley shirt? He gave it to his mountain guide.

Mark said: "I don't think he knew anything about Burnley but it was made by Adidas and that was a name he definitely knew.''

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