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<h6 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamPassive"><strong>Thank you for taking the time to join and read this! I have been training for well over a year now alongside my studies at uni and working to save to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's largest and the worlds tallest freestanding mountain) which stands at approx 19,341 feet.</strong><br /><br /><strong>This climb will </strong><span style="color: #00ccff;">NOT be easy.</span><strong> 20 people die every year, attempting to reach the summit and the air is so thin it is said to be like breathing through a straw. As well as facing Altitude sickness which will affect me in some way, I will be climbing to temperatures of below freezing (Approx -10c at night and -22 at the summit.)</strong><br /><br /><strong>My training has included climbing the three highest peaks in england wales and scotland as well as regular gym sessions, running and cycling. I know you will appreciate how hard it is to raise money for charity in the current economic climate and that is why i'm asking each of you to donate <span style="color: #00ccff;">JUST £1 !!!!!!!!!! </span></strong><br /><br /><strong>Yes you read that right <span style="color: #00ccff;">ONE ENGLISH POUND!</span> basically i know lots of you will want to donate but feel unsure of how much, and i currently have 682 of you on facebook, i have already raised £300 in offline sponsorship, so if each of you donates £1 right now then I will have £982 (well on my way to my target) If you'd like to donate <span style="color: #00ccff;">PLEASE DO IT NOW</span> and don't think you will do it later incase you forget :) Below is an example of what your donation could help to achieve as well as a little description of the charity and why i think it's such a brilliant cause!</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: #00ccff;">DebRA </span>is the only national patient support group and medical research charity in the UK working on behalf of people living with EB. DebRA relies entirely on voluntary donations.</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: #00ccff;">Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) </span>is a very rare genetic condition in which the skin and internal body linings blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds.</strong><br /><br /><strong>At its mildest, the blistering is confined to the hands and feet making holding things and walking extremely painful. In more severe forms all the body is affected and the wounds heal very slowly, giving rise to scarring, physical deformity and significant disability. For many affected by the condition, the blistering is not limited to the skin but also affects the inner body linings such as the mouth and oesophagus. The eating of solids is, in these cases, almost impossible, and the disposal of the body waste incredibly painful.</strong><br /><br /><strong>Whilst considerable progress has been made in recent years in understanding EB and identifying the genes that cause the condition, there is as yet no effective treatment or a cure. for more info on eb visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.debra.org.uk/types-of-eb.html" target="_blank">http://www.debra.org.uk/types-of-eb.html</a></strong><br /><br /><strong>EB and the charity DebRA wer featured in channel 4s <span style="color: #00ccff;">'the boy whos skin fell off',</span> this one hour documentary tells the story of Jonny Kennedy, a very busy man with just a month to 'befriend Nell McAndrew, Fly in a plane, visit Downing Street and plan his own funeral'. I highly recomend watching it on 4od. It's really sad but so uplifting too!</strong><br /><br /><strong>£1 can provide 'scratch mits' to prevent a baby from tearing their own skin. £5 can provide a set of easy grip pens to help children hold on when their fingers are fused together from repeated scarring. And £100 is the average cost of dressings needed every two days. </strong><br /><br /><strong>I think DebRA is an amazing charity to fundraise for as my sponsors can tell exactly how their donations will help. DebRA works with the families of people with EB as well to ensure a better quality of life for people with the condition and their families.</strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>So what makes my page different? <span style="color: #00ccff;">EVERY SINGLE PENNY OF YOUR DONATIONS WILL GO TO DebRA</span>, helping to fund invaluable research into EB and improve people's quality of life! I am funding the entire trip myself, even the surprise costs such as VISAs and immunisations :(.</strong><br /><br /><strong>So please dig deep and donate now :D</strong><br /><br /><strong>Love Steph</strong><br /><strong>x</strong></h6>