My story

It started with a shed.

Actually, it really started with a pizza. Or rather, lack of pizza. Or cheesecake. Or, in fact, anything dairy.

Why? Well, it was September last year and I had just found out that I was lactose intolerant. By cutting out all dairy foods I inevitably started losing weight. Pounds of it.

This coincided with the launch of an informal Willingham walking group – and thanks should go to Guy Beauchamp for starting this. Having spent all of my life hating (with a deep passion) all forms of physical exercise I found that the more weight I lost the more I enjoyed these weekly walks. However, as is often the way with obsessions, walking became jogging which turned to running and before I knew it cycling and swimming had joined the party! I suddenly found that, after over four decades of blissful inactivity, and a physique to prove it, my day is now incomplete without a 4 mile jog, 20 mile bike ride or 35 lengths at Impington pool. I think Deb is still reeling from shock.

So why the shed? Well, discussion last year turned to celebrating milestone birthdays.  A new garden shed was one suggestion but I felt that for me (and 2012 is a big year) perhaps something different and challenging, involving friends and travel and adventure on a Sir Francis Drake scale, would be more appealing. Besides, I’d forever struggle to decide between shiplap and tongue and grooved.

I am very fortunate to have a wonderful and gorgeous wife who is happy to let me go off and do daft things. Debbie understands what I’m like, and has selflessly encouraged me over the last few months. She is very special!

And so, on January 26 2012 I set off with five mates – Kevin Scully, Andrew Wyllie, Chris Cross and John and Jim Bowles - for Tanzania, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

We’ve chosen the longest route, the Machame, to give us the most time to acclimatise. It is over 19,300ft to the summit, that’s over four times Ben Nevis, so altitude sickness is a very real problem, especially when our two nearest summits here in Willingham are Belsars Hill  at 13ft and Giants Hill at 17ft.

We’re covering all the costs ourselves but would like you to consider sponsoring us.

We all feel it would be a great opportunity to raise money for a number of different charities. I’ve chosen Tearfund – it’s a Christian organisation supporting poor communities around the world through the actions of local churches. I feel we take an enormous amount for granted – our freedom, health, wealth, security and wonderful surroundings – and feel that Tearfund is an excellent way to give to those not born into our privileged situation.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now. Or else I’ll have to scrap it all and start looking at sheds again.

My gallery 9

My Team

Team photo
Kilimanjaro Climbers

My company

My charity

Tearfund

Tearfund

Charity Registration No. 265464

Tearfund works through local churches and Christian agencies to open up a future for the world's poorest communities. Our ten-year vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

Donations 71

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Donation by Katy Gilbert on 10/01/12

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Donation by Anonymous on 10/01/12

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My good wishes to you and look forward to hearing of your success

Donation by Josie Brookes on 10/01/12

£10.00

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Donation by Sheena Jackman on 10/01/12

Donation by CHRIS ANDERSON on 06/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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What an amazing challenge and so inspirational, I just wish I could have joined you.Enjoy it and good luck!

Donation by Laurence Millard on 05/01/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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My very best wishes for your noble quest! Enjoy and good luck.

Donation by mike miller on 05/01/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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The Shed still sounds the best option to me!! Have a great time, I'm sure it will be amazing

Donation by Julie Collins on 23/12/11

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Best of luck Andy

Donation by Ben Jackman on 22/12/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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What an amazing achievement that will be! Good luck!

Donation by Trish Martin on 16/12/11

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Enjoy the view! Jon & Margaret

Donation by Jonathan Edney on 15/12/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

I never imagined you would get so fit and what a challenge I just wish I could have joined you. Enjoy the moment the next one is Mount Everest!

Donation by Linda Matthews on 12/12/11

You'll be so skinny when you get back you'll have to run round in the shower to get wet! Personally I'm sticking to dairy...

Donation by Chris May on 30/11/11

£200.00

Well done Andrew, hope you enjoy the experience - you may yet inspire us younger ones.

Donation by Andrew Holder on 28/11/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Making Tylers proud (er). Good luck AJ, Dont forget to take a Tylers Flag with you to plant at the top !

Donation by Alistair Brown on 24/11/11

Good Luck - have an amazing time!

Donation by Lisa Buckingham on 21/11/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Good luck, Andrew. My sons had a great time doing this trip earlier this year.

Donation by David Hills on 20/11/11

Go, Andy, go! Not a lot higher than your average Munro!

Donation by Hazel on 17/11/11

Go for it!

Donation by Brian and Meghan on 15/11/11

Best of luck!

Donation by Paul Rawlins on 14/11/11

Best of luck Andrew. A generous way for you to raise money for charity.Pip and Dave.

Donation by Phillipa Amos on 09/10/11

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$4,059.31
  • Offline donations$5,701.22
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$9,760.53
  • Gift Aid$671.29

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.