Greetings, my UK-Taxpaying colleagues, friends, and family!

Thank you for your generous offers of support as I gear up for FOCUS' winter 2009 challenge! This year's trek will take place in Uganda, where we will ascend two peaks, the combination of which will require climbing ~30% higher than Kilimanjaro. If the summitting of Mts. Elgon and Kaddam proves to be anything like my previous FOCUS fundraising trips to Madagascar (where we roughed it throug the aftermath of a cyclone that left our tents, belongings, and provisions drenched and half-unsuable) and Kilimanjaro (where our final summit ascent involved a 20-hr climb on 1.5 hours of sleep, meager rations, and dehydration reuslting from frozen camelbacks), it is certain to be another experience of a lifetime and a successful effort in raising funds for FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance.

Your support means a lot ot me and will make a difference in the lives of individuals suffering from the consequences of man made and natural disasters globally. FOCUS initiatives seek to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid by facilitating transition to sustainable, long-term development. You can find more information about focus by asking me, or at www.akdn.org/focus.

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