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On Saturday 4th October I arrived home after completing the most gruelling, tiring, rewarding thing I've ever attempted, climbing to the top of Africa on the mighty Kilimanjaro.
On there we walked through every kind of landscape from Rain Forrest to desert to something resembling the surface of Mars.
On day 3 we climbed the sheer rock face of the Barranco wall, a climb of over 200 foot.
We all suffered altitude sickness and the splitting headaches and sickness that accompany it.
We slept in tents for 6 nights on ground that was full of rock and used toilets that I wouldn't expect an animal would be happy with.
On the summit night we climbed from eleven at night till after seven in the morning and to be honest I've no idea how any of us finished as I know I had absolutely no energy left in my body for the last 3 hours! But finish we did and I'm so proud of myself and all my team mates who found hidden reserves to drag 
ourselves over the top to be met by the sunrise and some spectacular views that will stay with me forever.
Our reward for scaling those heights (5895 metres or 19,341 feet) was a return trip down doing something called Scree Running which involves running and skidding down loose rock and shale for 3 hours back to base camp, a short rest, then walking for another four hours to our Camp for the last night at around 6530 feet.
The last day was a decent of around 5 hours to Mweka Gate and a very welcome beer.
I met some of the bravest and most determined people I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with on this trek and I'll always cherish the memories.
But let's not forget the reason I did this, to raise funds for the wonderful organisation who have helped people we all know, The Christie Cancer Hospital in Withington. Below is my original message

This year Joseph Holt have launched a major appeal to raise £300,000 to provide the reception area for a very exiting new integrated procedures unit at The Christie in Withington. This will be built above the existing main entrance to the Hospital.

As part of this appeal Holts have asked their Public Houses to organise fund raising events and have promised to match any monies raised £ for £ so every £1.00 donated actually makes £2.00 for The Christie. If you fill in the Gift Aid section the amount donated will go up by 25%.

We at the Lord Nelson have pledged to raise £20,000 through a series of events throughout the year and this event is the biggie, on 24th September I'm off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro! I will be taking the Machame route, which takes 8 days to get you to the summit of Africa's highest mountain standing at a height of 5,895 metres or 19,340 feet.

Please give as generously  as you can. Every penny will get us closer to that massive amount we've pledged. And remember, as well as Joseph Holt matching your kind donations, Gift Aid will add another 25p for every £1 raised on this page as long as you fill in the relevant section when prompted.

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