Why climb Kilimanjaro? Why do it for Sense ?

This is why………

“Cheryl C was born deafblind.  At the beach she can feel the sand beneath her toes and the salty air on her lips. But, how would you read a book to her?”    

“Cheryl M was born deafblind and now in her mid 20’s.  She lives in her own flat and she is fearless”

Climbing up Kilimanjaro will certainly test my “fear” of heights; however, when I first read these lines I couldn’t perceive the difficulties deafblind people and their families have to overcome to lead their lives. 

Sense is a Scottish Charity based minutes from the STV Studios here in “sunny Govan”.  Their roots go back to a small group of parents of deafblind children who came together in 1977 to offer mutual support and to press for the development of services. They are now a significant service providing organisation which is also engaged in policy development for children and adults with complex support needs because of deafblindness or sensory impairment, learning disability or physical disability. They are also a leader in the field of communication and innovative support services for people who are marginalised because of challenging behaviour, health care issues and the complexity of their support needs. See there work at www.sensescotland.org.uk

So, it’s time to be generous, it’s not long to go, as I fly out on “holiday” to Tanzania on the 24^th of October 2009. 

A few days of mental and physical pain, 8 days of walking (6 up/2 down), camping, freezing temperatures, no beer and possibly altitude sickness meaning the risk of not reaching the summit at 5,896m, on the 1^st of November, has to be worth something! 

Yes, that’s 3.66 miles above sea level and I’m scared of heights!  

Please, be as generous as you think I deserve and remember to Gift Aid your donation for some extra benefit for the team at Sense , who deserve our support for the amazing work they do every day.

Cheers

Graeme

 

PS – just because Chris Moyles did it last year doesn’t make it easy………………