Raised so far: £3,525.00
Donate now

My story

 

Update 19 Oct: Wow, what a fantastic experience, walking through the Rainforest in a torrential rainstorm & getting to our first camp & having to sleep in wet sleeping bags on top of wet mattresses??!! But it never dampened my spirits. Every day was different & I enjoyed every step of the way. One thing I could not master was getting in & out of the tent, which was comical in itself & also getting into my sleeping bag. I had a couple of tough days with a really bad cough, my chest & throat felt like they were on fire & coughing gave me really bad headaches, but I put my head down & did it one step at a time. 

Summit night was amazing left base camp on 10 Oct at 5 past midnight, on the way to the top my water tube froze & I was biting at the mouthpiece trying to get rid of the ice so I could have drink, luckily I had a flask with water & so did the guides.

During the climb I watched the sun start to rise, I’d been walking for about 6 hours at this point & still had a long way to go but it felt great with the sun on it's way & lifted my spirits, nearly two hours later I arrived at Stella Point (Africa's second highest point 5756mtrs) I was so happy & pleased with myself.

When Uhuru Peak came into view it was amazing because I’d seen this so many times on the internet & in books & here I was, looking at the amazing views of the glaciers it was unbelievable.  I tied Gary's bookmark to the post of Africa's highest mountain & felt wonderful that I hadn't let anyone down especially Gary but it was a very emotional day for me too.

I was so driven for Gary, the girls, family, friends the RAF Benevelovent Fund with all the generous donations & words of support I never felt stronger so thank you all so much.

To Jana & Charlie what wonderful 3 Musketeers we made I miss you both so much you made a difficult journey a walk in the park & an absolute pleasure you were both rays of sunshine & wonderful company to be with thank you.

To Steve & Jana, thank you both for your never ending love & support, without you both I would never have gained this fantastic experience of a lifetime, my love to you both Jacqui.

To everyone, thank you all so much for your generosity, your incredible words of support & your belief in me, my heartfelt thanks Jacqui xx

Update 1 Oct: I am feeling absolutely terrified about the climb I am about to undertake, in a few hours I will be flying out to Tanzania arriving there tomorrow morning in time to start the most physical & mental challenge of life. Gary is my reason for doing this which intensifies my feelings even more because every challenge Gary ever set himself he always achieved, i'm stepping into the biggest boots of my life. My daughters, family & friends know how much I love & adore them but they'll have no idea how much i desparately miss them all already. I'm hoping to keep the site updated while I'm away.  Lots of love Jacqui xx

Update 9 Sept: Firstly, can i just say, well i don't how to say it, just how incredibly generous you've all been, your words of support have meant so much to me & has really helped to keep me motiavated, so to each & everyone of you thank you all so much.

Told you i was doing Kilimanjaro it would be nice for you to know a few of the details.

Sat 3 Oct       Start 9 day climb via Lemosho Route.

Sun 4 Oct:      7-8 hour trek to camp at Shira One.

Mon 5 Oct:     Trek to Shira Plateau Camp at G&M Two Or Shira Hut.

Tue 6 Oct:      Trek North West FLank to Moir Hut.

Wed 7 Oct:     Trek 7hrs to Barranco Valley to camp at Barranco Wall

Thur 08 Oct:    Climb up Barranco Wall to Karanga Valley Camp

Fri 09 Oct:      Take the traverse route to Barafu Ridge Camp, moving slowly because of the altitude.

Sat 10 Oct:     Around Midnight commence the climb to Stella Point - then continue to highest point Uhuru Point 19340ft/5895mtrs. acent & descent of this climb will take between 12 to 15 hours.

I have mixed emotions fear, fear, excitement and oh yes more FEAR?!?

Update 25 Aug:  When i first wrote this i couldn't write about Gary because it's still too hard & my reasons for doing this climb just re-inforce all the pain & sense of loss. If i was to tell of his numerous qualities you'd probably think it's his wife saying nice things about her husband but to be honest I couldn't begin to do him justice, and anyone who knew him, knew us knows exactly what we've lost. I'm blessed to have spent over 20 years with him & his five daughters have their dad's qualities & i see a piece of him in all of them.

Gary was 51 and a Reservist and proud to serve in RAF, he was deployed to Afganistan in February 2008 and on the 13th April  our lives were blown apart & irrevocably changed forever when he & his collegue were killed, when their vehicle hit a landmine. 

16 Aug - I wish I could put into words how much this means to me, my family & friends that you've taken time out of your busy day & donating your hard earned cash.

Whatever amount you decide to donate I want you to know that you are making a difference to the lives of a family whose lives will never be the same again, I know this only too well.

The RAF Benevolent fund sent Gary's family money within a couple of weeks, I didn't ask for it.  The RAF Benevolent Fund didn't ask me to fill out forms, there wasn't any terms & conditions, they just knew that unfortunately life still goes on & everyday living expenses have to be met.  I would have been too proud to ask for anything I would have felt that I was letting Gary down, mercifully The RAF Benevolent Fund let me hold my head up high.

I want you to know that every single penny you donate will go straight the RAF Benevolent Fund, Gary's wonderful cousin Steve & his wife Jana (from Telkom International Ltd) have very kindly & generously paid the cost of the trip for me, thank you both so much.

Now, thanks to my husband Gary I find myself climbing Kilimanjaro this is something I would never ever do but I know if Gary was here he would be doing it, so as in true Thompson tradition never to let a challenge pass us by I find myself in walking boots & probably cursing him all the way to the top.

If you can imagine Bridget Jones training to climb Kilimanjaro then that's me, but I know I have all the love & support of my daughters, family & friends and of course Gary pushing me up that mountain I can't see how I can possibly fail.

I will keep the page updated, I just want our Military Personnel & especially those presently serving in Afghanistan to know that 'we're thinking of them, that  they have all our support & what a great job they all do'.

Most of all thank you for your support.

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Jacqui Gary would be so proud Donation by Louise Summer 28/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Katie & Steve thank you both so much for your very generous donation it means so much xx Donation by Katie & Steve Cornwall xx 20/11/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Congratulations Jacqui Well Andrew from Sutherland & Barnett Hair Salon Donation by Andrew & family 20/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A massive congratulations on the most tremendous achievement best wishes Helen Donation by Helen Fox & Family 17/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Read about your amazing achievment in Octobers RAF news! Well done!! ( My son in law is training as part of the RAF task force to battle the IED's) Donation by Stephanie Holland (Custom Duct) 17/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement, Gary would be so proud, & a great cause Donation by Stephen, Paula & Family Rolling 15/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Gary would be so proud, what a great achievement & for such a great cause, well done Jacqui Donation by Michelle, Chris & Kelly Drackett 15/11/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Congratulations Jacqui Donation by Alice Ward 15/11/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Congratulations Jacqui, it is for a great cause. Lots of love Karen, Rob, Harry & Fred Donation by Karen, Rob, Harry & Fred Verity 15/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done a great effort Donation by Mark Simkins 10/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Jacqui - well done again! Absolutely amazing achievement and lovely to do it for Gary. I hope your daughters are very proud. Donation by Rohan 28/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done Jacqui - it was an amazing achievement! Donation by Lis Foster - 504 Sqn 27/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Congratulations! So well done! bet Gary was watching you every step of the way. Big hugs to Jordan from us all. Donation by Renia, Natasha and Alec Sladen 27/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Jacqui, I knew you had it in you! Donation by Alan Thorpe 23/10/09  

£50.00

Well done jacqui , i knew you would do it , see you soon Donation by adrian worrall 21/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

CONGRATULATIONS !! A wonderful achievement Jacqui. You gutsy lady. Donation by From |Eileen with love and admiration xx 21/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Jacqui well done on your brave achievment all our love. Per Ardua Gary and Jackie Eden Donation by Gary Eden 20/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Dearest Jacqui, Wonderful to talk before your big ascent. There ain't no mountain high enough for you NOT to climb! See you 30 Oct. love Maliks x Donation by Charlotte Malik 20/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well Done Jacqui lots of love Katie & Steve Donation by Katie & Steve 20/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done & congratulations Jacqui Donation by Tony & Kay 20/10/09  

£20.00

Donation by Jacqueline Thompson 20/10/09  

£20.00

Congratulations, well done Jacqui Donation by Neil Court & family 20/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Jacqui Donation by Wayne & Friends 20/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

You did it! im proud of you! congratulations Jacky! Donation by Shane Thompson 17/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

well done jacqui knew you could do it, maggie, noel emma sinead and amelia xx Donation by murphy family 16/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done Jacqui. From all at Tobi Picture Frames Donation by Tobi. 15/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

well done, fantastic news, we are so happy for you klaudia,neal,luke Donation by Klaudia Richardson 13/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done from the lads at 90su RAF Regiment Section (TCW) Donation by Stuart Blanchflower 13/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

An amazing thing to do in all respects Donation by Gary Pickering 12/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Jacqui I will eat humble pie and apologise to you profusely when i see you. Well done Love Steve Donation by Steve Smith 12/10/09  

£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £3,525.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £849.82

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.