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Update ...... Just over a week ago I got back from the big climb up Mount Fuji.... and surprisingly I can still walk..... The flight out was full ...so we did not stop. When we got to the hotel I managed to get about 3.5 hrs sleep..then we had a 3hr bus journey to the base station. We started the climb around 2300hrs...it was dark and very warm...in fact I started to strip off down to a T-shirt within 10 mins of walking. There were quite a few big steps to start with & as we were in the 'Fast' group the pace was pretty quick, it was at this point I thought.....what have I let myself in for....As we got higher it was still quite warm, but it started to get chilly and very windy around the 7th base station. I didn't know what to expect but I didn't think I would be climbing walls of boulders and volcanic rock, with sheer drops and no barriers to stop you falling over the edge. Base station 8c came, then 8b then 8a.....in fact it was quite demoralising that we took so long to get to the real base station 8.....and then 9 was just a shack that was hardly noticeable!...Rachel and I planned to have a real gossip on the way up.....but to be honest, it was a struggle to breathe let alone talk....so breathing took priority....!! At base station 7 we were left by our guide to make our own way up....if we carried on at the speed we were doing we would make sunrise. I have to say it was a struggle...Rachel and I kept each other going...it was 50 steps or the next corner, whichever came first, then we had a quick rest.... we continued this strategy...we then saw a sign..1200m to the top....after much walking we realised that it was vertical distance!!!..... it took 40 mins to do approx 400m...my heart was racing as if I had sprinted 200m....I felt a little disorientated and had a slight headache. When we reached the final rock climb, it was a bottleneck of people waiting to get to the top....nothing held Rachel back...she became spider woman.... she took the alternate route, which was rather steeper, more rocky, however got us to the top quicker.....nothing was going to stop her....I followed behind... We made it with 15mins to spare before sunrise.....it was so cold up there......I put every layer that I had on.....We managed to secure a spot on the edge of the rock ready for when the sun came up....it was truly a magical moment..... I could not have done it without Rachel....we made a great team.....I had really underestimated how hard I thought it would be....I can honestly say it was much harder than running the marathon.....the lack of oxygen was tough.... breathing was a struggle, a few of our team mates were sick or were suffering the effects of altitude sickness....... All but one completed it.....it was such an achievement...the only thing is, we had to get down...it was monotonous ....down a volcanic gravel path......in a zig zag formation.....we must have done about 50 of these zig zags...and they were so slippy, as rachel found out!!...I nearly fell over so many times....it was lethal. We made up for the lack of conversation on the way up...and gossiped all the way down. Just as we thought that we had got to the bottom a guide told us we had another hour and a half to go....and she was right!!!...we eventually got to the bottom...out of water, shattered but in one piece...the hot springs that followed eased our aches and pains..but the Japanese food that followed was interesting!.... once back to our hotel we filled up on gyoza and fried rice..... what can I say....an amazing experience.... with a great team of people all with one purpose in mind...to raise money for Dreamflight....and we think the team collectively have raised enough money to send 7 children on the holiday of a lifetime..... thank you to all of those that sponsored me... the motivation of raising so much money kept me going..... Kilimanjaro here we come..........xxxx
On July 15th I will be 1 of the 14 BA Crew taking the trip of a lifetime..... I'm going to Japan, and whilst there will be climbing Mount Fuji. After a long flight working and a few hours rest, we are taking a 3 hour bus journey to the base station. Its then a 7 hour climb to the summit which we hope to reach by sunrise. After a 3 hour trek back down, its off to the natural hot springs to relax.....naked...so I'm told!!!....I need Gok Wan desperately...(....how to look good naked.....) After a good nights sleep...I hope....its then back to work on the flight home.....all in a 4 day trip!!...... I hope to raise as much money as I can for Dreamflight.
Dreamflight is a registered UK charity that changes young lives through taking seriously ill and disabled children, without their parents, on the holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida.
Once a year, 192 deserving children from all over the UK, accompanied by a team of medical carers, board a chartered Boeing 747 and head to Florida to spend 10 magical days of fun and excitement. Many children could not undertake such a trip without the support of the army of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and non-medical volunteers who care for the children 24 hours a day.
Dreamflight is not just a holiday. The children leave their families behind giving them an opportunity to discover independence, confidence, and a whole new outlook on life. Often for the first time, these children realise that they are not alone, and they are not the odd one out. They see children around them who have also suffered, they gain perspective, and experience things they never thought possible.
Dreamflight children have gone on to amazing achievements. In 2008, 8 of the returning Paralympians from Beijing, many of them medal-winning, had been Dreamflight children citing the trip as a turning point for them.
Dreamflight, which has operated every year since 1987, believe that fun and joy are just as important as medical research and equipment - especially for children who perhaps can't wait long enough for the breakthrough they need or whose illnesses and treatments have brought pain, distress and disruption to their lives.
Dreamflight does something that medicine can't.
Please watch the video link before you donate ........ its such a worthy cause........... then donate what ever you can....... as Tesco say "every little helps"....... Whatever I raise, I know it will go to an extremely worthy cause...so dig deep please guys.....and thank you very much for your support xxxx
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.