UPDATE JUNE 2010
I am delighted to advise that, along with nine fellow trekkers I successfully completed the Challenge Trek on 11 June - 45km over 5 days at heights of up to 4460m (14500 feet). With temperatures dropping overnight to below -5deg (under canvas!) and climbing in the day to +25deg and more the word "Challenge" was very apt...
I am perhaps even more proud of the fact that, in completing my side of the deal, I have raised over £6400 for Barnardos - a sum which was beyond even my wildest dreams when I originally signed up for the event in June 2009 - many thanks to everyone who has supported me in reaching this amazing sum.
Photos are available at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22685&id=100000469062755&I=67044a47ad
You may also be interested to know that Charity Challenge, who organise this and similar events, arranged for the whole event to be recorded on video, which will be available on their website www.charitychallenge.com after the end of June, ahead of a televised "celebrity" version in late September in aid of Breast Cancer Research. If you want to see a Bank Manager suffering, now's your chance....!
Again my sincere thanks to all.
Ian
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In June 2010, as part of a Charity Challenge event I shall be participating in a ten-day expedition to Peru to undertake a trek to Machu Picchu - the lost city of the Inca civilisation. At its highest point, the trek takes us to 4378m (14360 feet - or three-and-a-half times the height of Ben Nevis!).
For someone who was devastated when told that the office lift was going to be out of action for twelve weeks (I do work on the second floor!) this is, as you can imagine, quite a commitment.....
Let me explain - and this is the heartfelt bit (sorry but this is for charity). In 2009 I lost my Mum, Betty. Having lost my Dad Cyril fifteen years ago I found myself wanting to learn a little more of her early life and I spoke to her brother Brian.
What he told me about their childhood years initially made my blood run cold - but soon I simply felt immensely proud of them both for the fact that they were both subsequently able to overcome the undoubted mental scarring it must have left. Domestic violence is an issue which even today carries a stigma – in those days the options available to the victims were very limited indeed. For children the experience at any time is hugely traumatic.
Neither they (nor Cyril) ever mentioned anything about it and I realise now that her dreadful experience was the driving factor behind why she, Cyril and Brian made such an effort to ensure that my own upbringing, and that of my brother was, whilst never privileged, as comfortable and contented as they could manage - which was a great deal indeed.
Anyway, I consequently found myself thinking more and more that I wanted to do something before my 50th birthday in 2011 (I know, I know, I don't think I do either...) to help, even in a little way, today's young people who may otherwise have a childhood more like Mum's than mine - and with some existing connections with Barnardo's an obvious opportunity arose (although with hindsight purchasing some raffle tickets may have been an easier option!).
.......all of which goes some way to explaining why, in July and September I was atop Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike (and climbing all those stairs at work even when the lift was back in service) in an attempt to prepare myself to do something, just a little thing, that will hopefully make a big difference to someone's child, somewhere.
I have been humbled thus far with people’s generosity even in these difficult times, for which I thank you all. I am delighted that my initial target has been met, and I have now set my sights on raising £5000. Who knows?
Thanks again for reading - if you also feel like pledging a little something towards my goal then I also thank you on behalf of Barnardo's, who I know will be incredibly grateful for any assistance you might feel inclined to give - even if just to make me feel compelled to walk a little further as I train for the big day.
Cheers
