Dear All, The Football League’s official charity partner for the 2010/11 season is Marie Curie Cancer Care. The aim is to raise £500,000 to provide 25,000 community nursing hours for terminally ill cancer patients. To do my bit, along with Sky Sports Chris Kamara, Swansea City Manager Brendan Rodgers, Aidy Boothroyd, Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson, Daily Mail columnist Des Kelly and 28 others, I will climb Africa’s largest peak Mount Kilimanjaro between the 9and the 18 of June. As part of my preparations I will drag myself to the gym 3 times a week, undertake a series of training treks and be inoculated against Hepatitis A, Malaria, Typhoid and Yellow Fever.
I will spend 8 hours in an economy airline seat to reach East Africa. When we set off we will walk in t-shirts and shorts but by the time we’ve climbed the 19,341 feet to the top it will be minus 20c.
Along the way we’ll sleep in tents, not wash for a week and go to the toilet in unspeakable circumstances.
The altitude sickness in the final stages will be so bad that some of us may struggle to reach the summit. For the final 6 hours ascent we’ve been told to expect the feeling of extreme drunkenness and the worst possible hangover at the same time.
I am doing this in memory of my mother who died from cancer at the age of just 58. From diagnosis to death she lasted just 6 months. I have seen at first hand the distress and confusion of a terminally ill patient and their family. I know how important it is that those who are nearing the end are made to feel as comfortable as their situation allows.
No pressure, but please give as generously as you can and if you can’t, please spread the word.
Thank you
Clem
Mark Clemmit is the features reporter on BBC 1’s Football League Show, co-presents BBC Radio 5 Live’s 5 Live Football League and hosts the official npower Football League Podcast
