Well I have summitted Kili & it felt amazing. After a gruelling 7 & half hours steep climb, despite severe headaches & some vomiting, at 6.30am on 1st Jan 2010, I (with my partner) reached the roof of Africa, to see the sunrise on one side & the full moon on the other...it was fantastic, despite being -20 & wearing about 5 layers. It was completely worth the slog so if you would still like to donate some of your hard earned cash for the lovely residents at the Vi & John, please do so.
Thanks very much, a phenomenal amount has so far been raised for the home.
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We're off - fly tomorrow (Xmas Day) to Tanzania. Start walking 27th Dec & then on NY's Eve midnight our time, 10pm GMT we start our final ascent to the summit, planning on seeing sunrise on 1st Jan 2010 at the top. If you want to follow our journey, click on the link http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?t=h&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116890249293007182618.00044d6d2b7651a4d756c&ll=-3.099378,37.155762&spn=1.431582,2.705383&z=9 Scroll to the bottom of the ‘Team Kilimanjaro Locations’ section on the left hand side of the screen, you will find the climbing group listed as TOTO x 6. If you click on the name TOTO x 6, you will be taken to the latest recorded location on the mountain for the group. If when checking the map use the slider bar on the left edge of the map, you can zoom in to the exact location of the last reported position.
Wish you all a happy New Year!
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In training - October Brecon Beacons (Sugar Loaf Mountain & Fan Y Big), after hailstones & 30mph winds in Wales in November headed to the Sierra Nevadas in Spain to the top of Spain's highest mountain, Mulhacen.
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Well I've been talking about it for a couple of years & now I'm going to do it...time to make it to the summit of the highest freestanding mountain on earth, the highest mountain in Africa & 1 of the seven summits of the world, at 5895m, over 19,000ft, that is Kilimanjaro!!!
The fastest female, Rebecca Rees-Evans did it in 13 hours 16 minutes 37 seconds, I'll be doing it in a more realistic 6 days aiming to summit on Dec 31st 2009, yes New Year's Eve for the full moon, with my partner Joe helping me haul myself up the mountain. This is no mean feat with a third of trekkers not making it to the summit, so it's justified to raise some hard earned cash.
I'm doing this in aid of the Vi & John Rubens Care Home for the Elderly. This home was a big part of my life for many years as I regularly visited my 3 grandparents, Bessie Roberts & Sam & Debby Juggler who lived there. They were extremely well looked after by the many wonderful nurses & carers & they were all very happy living along with lots of other residents. Therefore, it seemed fitting when my 2 nannas who passed away on the same day in April this year, that I close 2009 by giving back to the place that made my grandparents last few years as comfortable as possible.
Vi & John Rubens is part of Jewish Care. The home itself is a 121 bed care home for people over 65 who are unable to live independently in the community. The home provides residential, nursing and dementia care, having recently opened a 2nd Alzheimers & dementia unit, catering for the growing need of dementia sufferers.
This year the home is seeking £2,000 to be able to buy 10 new, much needed wheelchairs, hence my target. However, whatever money you decide to donate will really help to make a difference and help them to achieve this goal.
Donating through Just Giving is fast & totally secure...the money is assigned to go directly to the home & the gift aid can be reclaimed on your donation, so please dig deep & donate now - don't forget to tick the gift aid boxes.
Thanks very much.
