Harrogate man, 72, to climb eight Burj Khalifas for charity

BBC News

18-05-2025

A man is hoping to climb the equivalent of eight times the height of the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa - on a stair climber for charity.Rob Northfield, from Clint, near Harrogate, is raising money for Henshaw's, which supports young people with learning disabilities, and the Yorkshire Young Achiever's Foundation.Mr Northfield said he was aiming to climb 60 steps a minute for more than four hours in order to hit the 6,632m (21,750ft) target."I am 72 this year and I'm going to attempt to do something most youngsters wouldn't attempt to do," he said.
"I'm training four times a week. I'm doing speed sessions three times a week, and that's like 45 minutes to an hour at quite a pace, which is around about 90 steps a minute," he said.He is being supported by former England and Leeds United player Tony Dorigo, after the pair met at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Award dinner and bonded over their charitable work - and love of football.Mr Northfield also had a short career in football, playing for Leyton Orient.Dorigo. said: "It's a heck of a challenge. My legs only manage eighteen holes of golf.""Rob is very determined and I love it. He sets himself a challenge and he's going to get it done somehow, some way."I've been told I'm on the substitutes bench. Hopefully I stay there. That is what I would like to think."
In 2024, Mr Northfield raised £10,300 for Henshaw's, climbing for three hours non-stop on the stair master, but is now planning to top that by climbing for four to six hours on 13 June in a bid to raise £30,000.He said: "I'm trying to get over the message that, you know, as you get older, they'll become an age when we can't do things. But that isn't in your 60s or 70s."
Dorigo said the challenge reminded him of his Leeds United training days."The pre-season at any football club was always awful," he said."It was Roundhay with Leeds United. We had Roundhay Soldier's Field and we would run around there and up and down the steps. However we did not do it for 3hrs 30mins."
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