Finally.......made it to the top! A big thanks goes to everyone who has supported me over the past year with fundraising, training and words of encouragement. It was always going to be difficult and the weather didn't make it any easier, with torrential rain in the rain forest, freezing temperatures at night and then to top it all off, a chilly minus 22 degrees wind chill on the final night.
Never have I felt exhaustion like I did on the final day, knees shot, sensation gone in some of my toes, hunger and dehydration.....wouldn't have missed it.....but don't worry, won't be asking for sponsorship for something like this again (well, at least for quite some time!)
Thanks again to you all for your support.... I thought climbing the mountain was going to be the biggest achievement, never did i dare think that you would all help me raise so much for such a great cause!
(PS If you haven't sponsored me, and want to, this page is still active.)
If you are thinking of taking up this challenge and want more info, let me know (guy.jones@ltsb-finance.co.uk).
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On the 6th February this year I will begin the long trek up the highest mountain on the African continent - Mount Kilimanjaro (19,000ft). The trek will cover over 60 miles in six days, trekking on average 7 hours a day, through rainforest, moor land, and on to the summit with temperatures feeling as low as -30C. Making it even more mentally challenging will be the nausea and headaches, being the symptoms of altitude sickness, and I'm sure the odd blister.
The motivation behind the hours of training, whether it be snowing or raining, and the motivation to keep climbing once on the mountain, will be the money that I am raising for Tommy's, the charity which funds medical research into the causes of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage. To maximise the total raised I have carried out a number of fund raising activities throughout the past year - which so have included, Sponsored Handyman, Car Boot and a fun day at the Lollipop Club in Richmond.
Why Tommy's? Well on two separate occasions during Sinead's pregnancy with our twins, Jessica and Laura, there were complications and for days we were numb with the unthinkable going through our thoughts. What should we be doing? What could be done? And most painfully, what should we have done?
Happily Jessica and Laura were both born safely and are now five. So we can only try to imagine the pain of losing a child during birth. Shockingly, one in four women will loose a baby during pregnancy or birth. A statistic not widely known as it’s a subject none of us like to broach, even though some of those women are our closest friends.
So now, having been given so much support in achieving our dream of having children I want to help Tommy's research the answers to those questions we asked ourselves, as have so many others, and help reduce miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, premature birth and stillbirth.
So please sponsor me now!
Please note that I will be personally paying around £1000 for the flight, equipment and other costs for this trek so as to maximise the funds going to Tommy's.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. Also, Tommy's, the baby charity gets 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, added to your donation if you are a UK taxpayer.
Monies raised offline:
£ 20.00 Charlie Sugrue
£ 60.00 Richmond Stace (www.specialistpainphysio.com)
£ 20.00 Katherine Kahumbura
£ 20.00 Martin Hawkins - one fixed aerial cable
£ 50.00 Sarah & David Jones
£ 20.00 Sharon Donaldson
£180.20 Many thanks to all the children of Infant 2, St Elizbeth's Catholic Primary School, Richmond, for their efforts in the Sponsored Christmas paper chain making
£ 10.00 Ambia Begum
£410.00 Lollipop Club, Richmond - Sunday opening
£ 50.00 Lollipop Club Richmond - Halloween Party
£ 30.00 Lollipop Club, Richmond - Book Sale
£ 50.00 Mark Glasscock (www.justgiving.com/markskiscope2010)
£ 71.98 Lollipop Club, Richmond - Book sale and collection tin
£500.00 Matched Giving - Lloyds TSB Foundations
£ 50.00 Mr & Mrs Coulet
£240.15 Car boot sale
£450.00 Mum and Dad - a long weekend of fascias, soffits and barge boards
£171.50 Ian Greely's 50p box
£ 62.00 Sasha Viergever - Crumpler bag donated and Ebay'ed
£106.64 Lollipop Club, Richmond - Easter event
£ 10.00 Mike Baldock
£ 30.00 Mrs J Pumfrey
£ 5.00 Divisional Finance Sweep Stake
