Updated on Jun 6th 2011 at 8:26 AM from the JustGiving API
In little over 48 hours four male counterparts will attempt to climb to the 'Roof of Africa' on what is hoped to be a trek of a life time. Now that last line sounds like it should be in a movie script, but no, it's what lies ahead of me and my three friends in the coming few days (and possibly nights!). Not everyone has the chance to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, run 13.1 miles or cycle from coast to coast. It is these types of challenges that make me leap out of bed in the morning, but to be able to do even attempt them in the first place makes me feel very lucky. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored me in the last 6 months and I hope that your kind donations will help support and restore the thousands of people's lives damaged or in some cases destroyed by ME. As I finish typing my last post before heading three thousand miles south across Europe and into the warmer climates of central Africa, my excitement levels can only be likened to that of christmas eve or the night before a childhood birthday (when birthdays didn't feel like a slow countdown to the first sign of old age...the dreaded 'first grey hair'!). TBH I haven't thought about the true size of the challenge that we have set ourselves until the last few.....well, seconds :-0. This will feel ever so more real when flying into Tanzania we realise that despite sitting in a pressurised aircraft cabin at 15000 feet, the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro sits another 4341 foot above us! I'm not so sure a 3-layer clothing system is as well insulated as a plane....well, we will soon find out! Stentos, out.
Updated on May 8th 2011 at 10:53 PM from the JustGiving API
Three days out of four completed on the c2c bike ride plus a Half marathon last week ran in 1 hr 44 mins!
So...you have found my fundraising page to trek to the top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world! (4th most prominent). I'll be one of 15000 people attempting to reach the summit standing at almost 20,000 feet (5895m).
A chat between myself and 3 of my old school friends last summer led us to try a new challenge (we didn't want to get to 25 and have nothing to look back on!).
We are leaving the country in early June 2011 to complete the climb to the top and back down in 6 days (including one day to acclimatise at 14000 feet) with a final moonlight climb to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro as the sun rises!
My aim is to raise £1000 from sponsorship!
Here comes my plea for your support :-). I know you're probably thinking "why should I donate some of my hard earned cash?". Well I have two answers to that question rattling around in your head....
One, Im not only trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro (this alone wasn't a big enough challenge!), but I will also be running a Half Marathon and Cycling from Coast-to-Coast both prior to our departure from the UK.
If I still haven't convinced you to donate, then how about the second reason...
With all your support, I'll be attempting to raise £1000 towards my chosen charity, The ME Association. Many of you would not of heard of 'The ME Association', however, they are a charity that provides a huge range of support, advice and information to people suffering from ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). They are also active in research and raising the profile of this serious, physical illness affecting 250,000 people in the UK.
The main symptom of ME/CFS is severe fatigue after mental or physical activity taking generally 24-48 hours to recover. At times this illness can result in a severe reduction in a person's ability to cope with all aspects of normal daily living.
This is a charity that means a lot to me as my girlfriend has had ME since late 2009 and sponsoring me will give me added motivation to complete these 3 challenges. People with ME/CFS can face greater challenges everyday.
