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THE Parlotones have undertaken to climb the highest mountain in Africa.

The group will be joining celebrities, members of the media and members of civil society from 54 African countries when they climb Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania from March 5 to 9.

The climb is part of a United Nations (UN) campaign to raise global awareness relating to ending violence against women and girls in Africa. "It's really sad to see that in our modern times there are still barbaric human actions," says the Parlotones lead singer Kahn Morbee.

Initially, he says, they were only going to write a theme song for the campaign - Africa-UNiTE Speak out and Climb up to end Violence against Women and Girls.

But once involved, the band found they wanted to become even more involved.

"I became more aware of this issue once I got involved and wanted to help. And then we decided to actually do the climb. It's a symbolic message from our side," says Kahn.

"It's my own personal goal to reach the top and as a band we want to put our words into action," he says.

This is definitely not a task for sissies and Kahn says they have started an eight-week schedule of rigorous training and prepartion of the mind to complete the mission.

The group spend at least an hour in the gym doing lots of leg excercises and jogging up and down stairs. They have also already done several hikes.

"One around the gold course too," jokes Kahn.

"But, yes, we walk around the golf course carrying the bags to get used to the weight. I never realised how fatigued you can become just from walking," he laughs.

The musos have also been to mountaineous areas to climb and get used to different heights.

Let's hope all the sweat will be enough to get these tough boys up Kilimanjaro, also known as the Mountain of Greatness or the Roof of Africa.

"I get sea sick and I hope it won't be the same there with the altitude being so much higher than sea level, but if I vomit all the way up it's also okay as long as I get to finish," Kahn says.

The Parlotones forthcoming album Journey through the Shadows will be used to highlight this and other important campaigns - such as the Africa UNiTE Campaign - and various social issues that desperately need to be brought out of the shadows and into the light.