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In November 2017 I will be 40 years old, so to mark it I decided I would set myself the challenge of ticking something off the bucket list whilst raising money for a worthy cause. 

The trek is by no means a holiday. As well as ascending to a height of 5,895m (19,341 feet) - above the height of both North and South base camps on Everest - I will be:

- Trekking for 6-8 hours per day (approx. 14 hours on summit day)

- Battling the altitude and the effects of altitude sickness

- Getting up before dawn and trekking through the night on summit day

- Sleeping for 7 nights in a tent with temperatures down to -15 degrees

My trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro with be long, hard and exhausting, but it will be over in a few days. People living with Autism or Aspergers have to fight every day for their whole lives. Not just for support and sometimes practical help but also just to be understood and accepted in society. By combining my ascent of Kilimanjaro with raising funds for The National Autistic Society, not only will I fulfil a dream but the money raised will help fulfil the dream of acceptance for a person with Autism and their family.

You can follow my journey over the next weeks and months as I prepare for my challenge at my website www.challengevicky.org.uk

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