Father and son climb Kilimanjaro on polling day

A selfie of a man with grey hair, black shirt and navy coat and a young boy with brown hair and a navy jacket. They are both standing in front of a brown wooden sign saying Kilimanjaro National ParkImage source, Toby Wells
Image caption,

Toby and Jack have been planning the trip for a year to celebrate Jack finishing his GCSEs

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While some of us will be heading to the polls this Thursday, Toby Wells and his son Jack will be making their way to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The two will start their journey to the summit in the early hours, after a year of planning the trip.

But like many others Toby did not wanting to miss out on the chance to vote.

Speaking to the BBC Newscast, Toby's wife Melanie said he may be the highest remote voter on polling day as he climbs 5,895 metres (19,340 ft).

Toby, 44, and Jack, 16, started their journey from Swansea to Tanzania on Friday.

"Jack has just finished his last year of sitting his GCSEs. Both him and Toby been planning the trip for a year and they wanted to do this as a reward for Jack finishing his exams," said Melanie, 44.

"They decided to go away before the summer holidays and in September, he'll start his A-Levels so we wanted to do something to celebrate."

Toby and Jack are completing the Machame route and they set off on Sunday.

"They've been sending me pictures when they can, they've been having a really great time and are enjoying the scenery," she said.

On the day of the election, they will leave Barafu Camp after midnight for the six hour trek to the summit.

"Hopefully they will arrive in time for sunrise. They will then trek another six hours down to Mweka Camp," she added.

Image source, Toby Wells
Image caption,

While Toby and Jack make their way back to Swansea, Melanie and son Harry, 13, will be heading to Edinburgh

After voting every year, Toby did not want to miss his chance for this year's general election.

"We think that voting is very important. It gives you the opportunity to put your opinion or view forward.

"Toby didn't want to miss that chance, so he sent off for a postal vote," Melanie said.

An avid listener and big fan of the Newscast, Melanie decided to contact the podcast team when she heard a regular segment called "The Remoter Voter".

The segment involves people giving their reasons why they are sending a postal vote.

They are categorised from "Remote voter", "Remoter voter" or the "Remotest voter" - looking at who will be the furthest away from home on polling day.

Melanie told BBC Newscast host Adam Fleming, that she thinks Toby could be the highest remote voter on Thursday.

Speaking after the podcast, Melanie said she was delighted to be featured.

"I was so chuffed when I found out that I was picked on Newscast, I've told all my friends.

"I wasn’t expecting to be put on the podcast because you think they’d have loads of messages," she said.