Thank you to everyone who gave generously to support my challenge and raise much needed funds for ADDISS.
I am pleased to say I completed the challenge. We trekked in a small group of nine fundraisers and each and everyone of us found the experience to be either life enhancing or life changing. It was not an easy task as we trekked at very high altitude some 14,000 feet up in the Andes. We dragged ourselves up mountains and over mountain passes. We slept in tents at temperatures of below freezing. We met children and families in villages that had stood still in time over the centuries.
We worked as a team, a great team who supported and encouraged each other along the way.
I am not sure yet which is the greater challenge - climbing mountains or trying to change public perception about our children.
You can still continue to support my challenge and help me raise money for ADDISS. ADDISS has been running a helpline for some years now, supporting the many families whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Our funding only allows for one helpline 3.5 days per week. Increasing the hours and number of lines will enable ADDISS to support more than double the amount of families who currently benefit from our service. Last year we received over 4000 telephone calls on one line.
Nearly 500,000 children in the UK will have some difficulties with ADHD and about 20% of those will be very seriously affected. ADDISS is a lifeline for so many of those parents and lately a large number of adults with ADHD or suspected ADHD have been seeking our support.
Having asked so many people to undertake this challenge to raise money for ADDISS, I thought I had better do it myself. It iwas a huge challenge for me as not only did I have to trek up to the top of a mountain where the air is very thin, and faced the possibility of altitude sickness - I also had to lose a large amount of weight in order to do this. This was a very difficult challenge for me as my battle with my weight has been ongoing for as long as I can remember.
I was determined to succeed and I did.
I lost a total of twenty five pounds in weight and am determined to continue to lose weight over the coming months. Please sponsor me and please watch my progress. I will post all weight loss on this page every month.
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. We need to raise funds in order to keep our helpline running and to enable us to support the very many families who come to us for help and advice.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ADDISS will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support.
Andrea Bilbow
Chief Executive
ADDISS
