One of the most important ladies in my life is my god daughter, Megan.
When I was told that at just 7yrs old she had been diagnosed with diabetes my heart sank. I did the shouting “It’s not fair!” and shaking a fist skyward but apart from getting odd looks didn’t, surprisingly, do any good.
Well enter an idiot with a plan. I do something daring/dangerous/stupid
(delete as appropriate). For my part I get to go on an amazing adventure, a trek to Everest Base Camp on the Khumbu Glacier (5357m/17,575ft/3.3miles!) and you get to give some of your hard earned to a great cause. Together we get to support the supporters, those incredible people that do so much for so many with so little. They really do help all those that they come in touch with.
EarlyBird Diabetes Trust is a unique and important study, based in Plymouth but with nationwide implications for the early prevention of diabetes - but it costs £250,000 a year to run.
Diabetes is a serious disease. It can lead to kidney failure, blindness and limb amputation. Heart attacks are three times more common in people with diabetes.
So-called 'adult' diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and is now beginning to affect teenagers and children. If nothing is done to halt the rise in diabetes, 1 in 5 of today's children is likely to get diabetes in their lifetime.
That is why 300 schoolchildren and their families are taking part in the EarlyBird Diabetes Study, a 12-year project to find which factors in childhood lead to the development of diabetes in later life.
We need your support and that of your friends, families and employers.
So dear reader this is where we do our bit. The two main things that are now on your lips are -
A/1 - “ Why have you started collecting so soon if you’re not off ‘til November?” and second is B/2 - “I’ve heard about these trips, you get a holiday of a lifetime and we pay, what’s left over goes to some charity or other”
Allow me to retort.
A&1 - This is a massive challenge. Starting early gives you the chance to maybe raid more than one pay-packet (oh how I hope!) and me the chance, and I’m determined, to get as much as I can.
B&2 – Very true! This is the trip of trips and I’m so determined that everyone wins that I’m paying for the trip myself. This allows everything raised to go straight to the charity. Oh and I get a pocket full of memories, tales and photo’s, and I promise to keep the stories short.
So 7 November 2008 I fly to Kathmandu, Nepal and then after a flight to Lukla and a further 95km trekking and a climb to a height of 5647m/18,526ft/3.5miles at Kalapatthar, I get to come back and watch EarlyBirds enjoy their coffers being swollen by your generosity.
Thanks
ExtremeBob
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Earlybird Diabetes Trust 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.
