I HAVE REACHED MY MACMILLAN TARGET NOW - THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SPONSORED ME.

Stop Press..... I made it to the top - this photo shows me with Kilmanjaro peak behind me. It was a hard trek - both exhilarating and tiring and descending back into the Tanzanian community was fascinating and humbling too...

HOWEVER, on this trek I AM STILL FUNDRAISING FOR THE HOSPICE OF ST FRANCIS. PLEASE DO NOT SPONSOR ME VIA THIS WEBLINK but go to: (copy and paste into your web browser the following line)

http://www.justgiving.com/davidkilihike

and you can sponsor me in exactly the same way for this same trek!! (I have agreed with Macmillan that any funds received in excess of £2,900 can go to The Hospice of St Francis - but again please do not donate anymore through this website). Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. I will be hiking up Tanzania's Machame Route to the top of Kilimanjaro between 21st and 30th October 2005. Up-front I should say that I am personally paying £500 towards my flights and taking several days off work to complete this event. ie. you are not paying for me to be on holiday! Standing at 5,896m, Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world and Macmillan Cancer Relief is giving me a unique chance to reach the summit whilst raising money to help people living with cancer. Following the Machame Route, the path to the snow-capped summit will take me over moorland, rocky trails and scree with stunning scenery and beautiful ice formations along the way. This is a challenging trek at altitude, with warm daytime temperatures, but as the sun sets, the temperature drops dramatically. WHAT'S IT ALL FOR? With one in three people affected by cancer at some point in their life, and 739 new cases diagnosed each and every day, the need for expert care and emotional support is greater than ever. By taking part in this challenge I am helping cancer sufferers to benefit from a range of services such as nursing and other specialist health professionals. Donating using a Gift Aid form will, if you are a UK taxpayer, increase your donation by an extra 28% at no cost to you. But there is a personal side to this too.... My mother-in-law lost her own battle against cancer at the end of last year. She, and her surviving husband, benefitted enormously from the care delivered by our local hospice - The Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, Herts. (Reg charity No. 280825) I'm at treecottage@btinternet.com if you have any questions or need help and appreciate your consideration of this fundraising campaign. Many thanks for your support. David Cobb