Almost a year ago, a very good friend invited me to go along on a real adventure – climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak (at almost 6000 m or 20,000 ft) and the world’s highest freestanding mountain. You just can’t say no to Addie, so on September 22^nd, Addie, Kate and I will be on a plane heading for Tanzania for a seven day climb up the Machame route all the way to the summit.

I’ve never done anything like this before, so I decided to dedicate this effort to something close to my heart. It’s very simple, really: I owe a debt to two charities. It’s time to try and repay them.

A little over ten years ago, my son went through a successful bone marrow transplant (BMT) for his life threatening genetic immune system disorder, CGD. We received lots of help during this time – from his anonymous donor to the support and prayers of our family and friends. But we could not have done it without the support, advice and help of our dedicated CGD nurse. That nurse, fully funded by the CGD Society, made all the difference, and the Jeans for Genes campaign (now run by Genetic Disorders UK) raised much of those funds.

CGD is a rare, life threatening and life limiting disorder. Children are born with no effective defence against bacterial and fungal infections, and there is still no definitive cure other than BMT. But CGD is just one of thousands of genetic disorders. It is estimated that 1 in 25 children are affected by a genetic disorder. There are many more children and families that need help – and more cures to be found.

GDUK and the Jeans for Genes campaign continue to raise critically needed funds for many genetic disorder charities, both small and large. As a trustee, I really know how important this is. As a mother, I feel incredibly grateful that they exist.

Thanks for helping me reach my goal!!