Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Around 820,000 people in the UK today have a form of dementia and this is set to rise to over a million by 2025. Dementia UK is a national charity committed to improving quality of life for all people affected by dementia, with particular emphasis on supporting carers.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">In October 2012 I’ll be trekking up the Rongai Route, which starts just south of the Kenya/Tanzania border, to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,895 metres high. And I’ll be doing it to raise money for Dementia UK.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">The challenge for me is not just the altitude and the miles of walking each day − I’m not 20 years old any more − it’s the camping: the lack of hygiene etc. I have never camped out even for one night, not at a festival, nowhere. I like comfort, fresh sheets, running water, proper toilet facilities… Hate insects, won’t even go on a picnic… Obviously climbing so much each day will be a major test but I’ll be just as worried about handwashing and so on. I’ve never even owned a rucksack in my life; always felt that carrying things on your back is what animals do!</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">But this is a cause I feel very strongly about, increasingly so over the last couple of years as I’ve known more and more people affected by dementia. This charity addresses something which may affect any of us at any time, and I hope you too will feel strongly enough to lend me your best possible support. To give you just one example, £50 will support three carers by providing specialist support and advice through the national Admiral Nursing Direct helpline ('support' <em>is</em> an important word in this context!).</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">So come on! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Show you’re no meanie! Sponsor Marchini!</strong></span></span></p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>
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