Hardev Raikmo
Dev's Kili Challenge
Fundraising for Everyman Appeal
Story
*UPDATE*
As you may know by now, my colleagues and I have successfully made the summit of Kilimanjaro and have returned back to the UK. We would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us so far and believed in us when we announced this challenge.
Those who are yet to sponsor us, the page will be accepting donations until the end of the year so please donate as much as you can and help us raise lots of money for a very worth cause.
Thank you! :o)
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Late last year, Mr Tim approached me with an interesting proposition, one that would place me in a hostile environment, test the limits of my endurance, my courage and make me question my sanity. After I told him that I wasn't interested in going to see Portsmouth play, he then offered me the less daunting challenge of climbing a mountain with him and his (and now my) buddy John Thurston. After careful consideration and thought (about 10 seconds), I agreed and am now preparing for what will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of my young life thus far. We will set off on 15 September and hope to reach the summit as the sun rises on 23 September. For those who are unfamiliar with Kilimanjaro, here are some fast facts:
* The meaning and origin of the name Kilimanjaro is unknown. It is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning “mountain,” and the KiChagga word Njaro, loosely translated as “whiteness,” giving the name White Mountain. The name Kibo in KiChagga means “spotted” and refers to rocks seen on snowfields. The name Uhuru translates as “freedom,” a name given to commemorate Tanzanian independence from Great Britain in 1961.
* Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits, is considered the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, rising 15,100 feet (4,600 meters) from base to summit, 19,340 feet above sea level.
* Kilimanjaro has 2.2 square kilometers of glacial ice and is losing it quickly due to global warming. The glaciers have shrunk 82% since 1912 and declined 33% since 1989. It may be ice free within 20 years, dramatically affecting local drinking water, crop irrigation, and hydroelectric power.
* Kilimanjaro has five common routes to its highest summit: Marangu Route; Machame Route; Rongai Route; Lemosho Route; and Mweka Route. Machame and Lemosho routes are popular and scenic. Marangu is easiest and busy although the last ascent to the crater rim is difficult.
* Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. The mountain was built by successive lava flows. Two of its three peaks—Mawenzi and Shira—are extinct while Kibo, the highest peak is dormant and could erupt again. The last major eruption was 360,000 years ago, while the most recent activity was only 200 years ago.
Exciting stuff, huh? In order to meet this challenge head-on and conquer it, we will be undergoing strict training in the coming weeks and months to get in shape and ensure that we get to the summit. We'll be putting up a blog as soon as we can, which we will update with progress reports and, if we can manage it, little video diaries so you can keep up with the (mis)deeds and (mis)adventures of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly! And yes, we are still deciding to whom each description applies, though I guess it could be worse, it could be The Ugly, The Ugly and The Ugly...
So, why are we doing this? Well, the reason for this is to raise vital funds for EVERYMAN. Part of The Institute of Cancer Research, Everyman raises funds to increase awareness of, and funding research into, testicular and prostate cancer.
The incidence of male cancer is rising rapidly; one man dies every hour from prostate cancer in the UK and testicular cancer has almost doubled in the last twenty years, yet very little is know about why this is and what causes them in the first place. Despite this, and the fact that it affects so many men in the UK, research into male cancer is severely under-funded and is ten years behind some other cancers. Testicular and prostate cancer can hit any man, regardless of factors such as age, race or sexual orientation, so by doing this challenge and raising money for Everyman, we hope that we can do our bit to help bring more awareness to this fairly sensitive, and taboo, subject.
There is no limit to the fundraising but I have put a personal target of £5,000 and I remain confident that I will not only be able to raise this much, but even surpass it as well with your help and support. When I'm up that mountain, I know I won't be alone, I will have all of you with me. Guess I'd better get a larger backpack then!
Thank you for your time and donations!
Dev
As you may know by now, my colleagues and I have successfully made the summit of Kilimanjaro and have returned back to the UK. We would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us so far and believed in us when we announced this challenge.
Those who are yet to sponsor us, the page will be accepting donations until the end of the year so please donate as much as you can and help us raise lots of money for a very worth cause.
Thank you! :o)
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Late last year, Mr Tim approached me with an interesting proposition, one that would place me in a hostile environment, test the limits of my endurance, my courage and make me question my sanity. After I told him that I wasn't interested in going to see Portsmouth play, he then offered me the less daunting challenge of climbing a mountain with him and his (and now my) buddy John Thurston. After careful consideration and thought (about 10 seconds), I agreed and am now preparing for what will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of my young life thus far. We will set off on 15 September and hope to reach the summit as the sun rises on 23 September. For those who are unfamiliar with Kilimanjaro, here are some fast facts:
* The meaning and origin of the name Kilimanjaro is unknown. It is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima, meaning “mountain,” and the KiChagga word Njaro, loosely translated as “whiteness,” giving the name White Mountain. The name Kibo in KiChagga means “spotted” and refers to rocks seen on snowfields. The name Uhuru translates as “freedom,” a name given to commemorate Tanzanian independence from Great Britain in 1961.
* Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits, is considered the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, rising 15,100 feet (4,600 meters) from base to summit, 19,340 feet above sea level.
* Kilimanjaro has 2.2 square kilometers of glacial ice and is losing it quickly due to global warming. The glaciers have shrunk 82% since 1912 and declined 33% since 1989. It may be ice free within 20 years, dramatically affecting local drinking water, crop irrigation, and hydroelectric power.
* Kilimanjaro has five common routes to its highest summit: Marangu Route; Machame Route; Rongai Route; Lemosho Route; and Mweka Route. Machame and Lemosho routes are popular and scenic. Marangu is easiest and busy although the last ascent to the crater rim is difficult.
* Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. The mountain was built by successive lava flows. Two of its three peaks—Mawenzi and Shira—are extinct while Kibo, the highest peak is dormant and could erupt again. The last major eruption was 360,000 years ago, while the most recent activity was only 200 years ago.
Exciting stuff, huh? In order to meet this challenge head-on and conquer it, we will be undergoing strict training in the coming weeks and months to get in shape and ensure that we get to the summit. We'll be putting up a blog as soon as we can, which we will update with progress reports and, if we can manage it, little video diaries so you can keep up with the (mis)deeds and (mis)adventures of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly! And yes, we are still deciding to whom each description applies, though I guess it could be worse, it could be The Ugly, The Ugly and The Ugly...
So, why are we doing this? Well, the reason for this is to raise vital funds for EVERYMAN. Part of The Institute of Cancer Research, Everyman raises funds to increase awareness of, and funding research into, testicular and prostate cancer.
The incidence of male cancer is rising rapidly; one man dies every hour from prostate cancer in the UK and testicular cancer has almost doubled in the last twenty years, yet very little is know about why this is and what causes them in the first place. Despite this, and the fact that it affects so many men in the UK, research into male cancer is severely under-funded and is ten years behind some other cancers. Testicular and prostate cancer can hit any man, regardless of factors such as age, race or sexual orientation, so by doing this challenge and raising money for Everyman, we hope that we can do our bit to help bring more awareness to this fairly sensitive, and taboo, subject.
There is no limit to the fundraising but I have put a personal target of £5,000 and I remain confident that I will not only be able to raise this much, but even surpass it as well with your help and support. When I'm up that mountain, I know I won't be alone, I will have all of you with me. Guess I'd better get a larger backpack then!
Thank you for your time and donations!
Dev