My name is Matthew Ramsay, 29 year old amputee of 6 years and outdoor pursuits instructor for 3 years.
I am seeking assistance with an upcoming expedition, to climb the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas, on behalf of THE CAMBODIA TRUST.  Uk registered charity No.1032476
Cambodia has one of the world’s largest disabled populations, including an estimated 43,000 landmine survivors and 50,000 people affected by polio.
In a country where the average income is less than 50p a day, disabled people are the poorest of the poor. Discriminated against at every level of society, they are seen as ‘useless’; a burden on the family and the community.
Unable to participate in education and employment opportunities, many disabled men, women and children live as outcasts, begging on the streets for their survival.

During 2001 whilst working as a road liner I was involved in a horrific accident which resulted in the traumatic amputation of my left leg below the knee, and extensive reconstructive surgery to my right leg.  Following a 2 year re-habilitation period I have endevoured to help others less fortunate than myself, either through voluntary work or giving my time to talk to new amputees at rehabilitation clinics.
I was fortunate to visit many countries during a recent period of travel, one of these CAMBODIA, stuck in my mind.
Not only for the beauty and the people, but, whilst walking around one day in Phnom pen I was approached by a middle aged gentleman who noticed I had a prosthetic leg. We talked in broken english for a few minutes about my leg and he told me about his wife who also had her leg amputated after walking on a landmine in one of the many landmine filled areas!  At the end of the conversation he made it clear that help was not as freely available as here in the uk and even asked if he could have my spare leg!!!
After researching the situation in CAMBODIA I decided to do what I could to help. Therefore I am climbing Aconcagua 6,962m(Argentina/Chile border) from 10th january 2008, in aid of THE CAMBODIA TRUST.  The expedition via the polish glacier route is 18 days on the mountain, involving a combination of climbing and hiking. Each day we are required to carry a 25kg backpack up to a higher altitude where we will set up a camp and then return to our previous camp to recouperate, gather up belongings and next morning head for our higher camp.(standard acclimatisation practice for high altitude expeditions)
Training has involved weekends in The French alps, The lake district, Scotland, Wales and many hours in the gym.  From October until leaving for Chile I am training full-time to give myself the best chance of summiting this ‘stone sentinel’.
I am obviously hoping to raise as much financial assistance as possible for this extremely worthwhile charity.  Just £100 will provide an artificial limb for a landmine survivor!!!!

I have totally self funded the expedition,(which is organised by Aconcagua Adventures based in Mendoza, Argentina.www.aconcaguaadventures.com) therefore 100% of monies raised will go directly to THE CAMBODIA TRUST.   
I am in the process of arranging local and national media coverage for updates throughout the expedition. 

It's going to be difficult but with your support and generocity I know I will suceed!!!



Many thanks for your support,

 Matty Ramsay (mramsay8@hotmail.com)

www.cambodiatrust.org.uk