What began as a challenge that I had promised Georgina I would do to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia, turned into one of the most amazing experiences of my life and also one of the most trying. After six months of training, I left for my adventure on Friday 11 June, flying overnight to Tanzania. Whilst flying to Kilimanjaro airport, I got my first glimpse of ‘the mountain’, it’s peak hovering above the clouds that we were flying up alongside.
The climb took six days, covering a total distance of 60 miles. I walked in a group of four trekkers, supported by two guides and eleven porters. We travelled on the Rongai route, walking up the northern side of Kilimanjaro, looking down across the Kenyan plains as we climbed. As we walked we travelled through four eco systems up the mountain: Rainforest, heath moorland, alpine desert and glaciers. It was awesome walking through such different terrains on one mountain. The summit night was the hardest and most trying physical challenge of my life. Our team began our twelve-hour ascent at midnight on Wednesday night in what was to become a very long, steep, dark, cold and seemingly never ending climb up volcanic scree and then across snow to reach the final summit Uhuru peak, 5,895m at 8.15am on Thursday 17 June (see picture above, I’m the one with my hand raised in triumph, a lot of people struggle to recognise me under all of those layers)! It was the most exhilarating feeling reaching the summit. ‘Uhuru’ in Swahili means freedom. I certainly felt this whilst stood floating above the clouds standing at the highest point of Africa, it was a truly magnificent moment that I will never forget.
I will be paying for the cost of the trek myself and therefore all sponsorship funds raised will go directly to Cure Leukaemia.
In memory of Georgina
I will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding volcano in the world in June 2010 to raise money for Cure Leukaemia. The climb will involve months of training to prepare for seven days of trekking ascending 5,895 metres, in temperatures that could plummet to – 20 C.
Georgina was an inspirational young girl, who lived her life to the full, achieving academically with aspirations to study food science and nutrition at Reading University. Cooking was Georgina’s passion. Among many food achievements, Georgina completed work experience with Michelin star chef Raymond Blanc, worked for Daylesford Organic, and went on to win Step up to the Plate, she had a natural talent and flair with food that excelled way beyond her years. Georgina passed away at the age of twenty after her ten-year battle with leukaemia. We all know that during her years of treatment Georgina faced many complications and climbed many emotional and physical mountains of her own, she was fazed by nothing, I would like to complete this climb in memory of her.
Cure Leukaemia is a charity that is close to my heart. The charity was established to support the innovative centre for clinical haematology, known as the Leukaemia Centre, independently funded at the University Hospital Birmingham where Georgina received treatment and care. Each year there are 25,000 patients in the UK newly diagnosed with leukaemia and currently 80% of these adults will die from leukaemia. The Leukaemia Centre Project has been set up to develop and deliver new treatments to benefit leukaemia patients. This centre of excellence aims to transform the environment for patients receiving treatment for leukaemia, develop world-class clinical research and set up support groups for patients and their families.
Please can I ask for your help to reach my target goal of £5,000 for Cure Leukaemia. I will be paying for the cost of the trek myself and therefore all sponsorship funds raised will go directly to Cure Leukaemia.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to visit my page.
Georgina’s courage, resilience, and unfaltering determination in life is a lesson to us all.
Thank you so very much for your support.
Pippa Mawle
Please send me an email if you would like to read the diary I have written of my Kilimanjaro adventure.
To provide an insight into the Rongai route that I will be taking, please have a read of the following article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/7050801/Mount-Kilimanjaro-Climb-and-punishment.html
