My name is Rupert and I have just turned Twelve. I have been waiting two years to be old enough to climb Kilimanjaro and now, on the 11th Feb 2011, my father and I will start our assent to the summit! We have chosen this particular time as there is going to be a full moon when we reach the top and it is supposed to be incredible!
We are climbing without a group, just the two of us ,a doctor, expedition leaders and some helpers. This is because we need to climb slowly because of my age and have a much better chance of success if we take around 11 days to give our bodies a chance to acclimatise. We are going with a company in London called Action Challenge and they seem to be very experienced, although I am concerned about AMS I am more worried about not liking the food and keeping my energy levels up. The leader has told me a lot depends on your mental attitude so hopefully my determination will get me through!
Whilst I`ve been waiting to be old enough, I have been looking at lots of charities which I would like to support and the one I can relate to mostly is Village Education Project Kilimanjaro. It is for children around my age who live in the villages around the base of the mountain. A lot of the schools are in very poor condition and have hardly any text books and equipment, the charity raises money so that teachers can receive good training and they are able to buy much needed basic supplies. £100 pays for a full days training for twenty teachers and £5 pays for three text books.
Katy Allen, who is in charge of the charity has said that I can visit the school's after my climb and maybe meet the children. I am really looking forward to this and hope to play some football and make some friends.
I am really lucky and go to a very good school in Oxford called the Dragon. We are very fortunate to have amazing facilities and great teachers who encourage you in everything you do.
Apart from climbing,( my idol is Sir Ranaulph Fiennes,) I love to read adventure books on incredible journeys and also love Shakespeare. My favourite plays are Henry V and Macbeth. If I have enough energy I would like to repeat the speech Henry gave just before the battle of Agincourt on the top of the mountain, how amazing would that be on top of the highest peak in Africa!
If you are thinking about donating I would like you to know that I will try my very best to climb to the summit and will not give up unless it becomes dangerous.
I will keep this updated as often as possible but I do get an awful lot of prep from the Dragon, so maybe once a week.
Off to the Brecon Beacon today for more training.
Rupert
