I haven't raised money for charity since I was at school, so when an alcohol-charged conversation with a fellow traveller led to the opportunity - and, er, promise - to complete a long-held goal of mine, to walk up to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, I thought it was high time to finally do my bit to raise some cash for a good cause, however small.

In terms of technical difficulty, Kilimanjaro is effectively just a stiff hike up a big hill.  The real problem is the altitude, and the risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) from the thin air.  I've been to 4500 metres and 5300 metres before and had problems at both altitudes - severe in the case of the latter.  So to battle the effects of altitude and reach 5800 metres - two-thirds the height of Everest - without keeling over is the real challenge for me.

You can support me on this hike by donating money to my chosen charity, Weston Hospicecare, who amongst other services provide free end-of-life care in a quiet and comfortable environment for people in the Weston area who are suffering from terminal illnesses, allowing them to experience their last days on Earth in comfort and to pass on with dignity.  Weston Hospicecare were there for my Grandmother and this is why I have elected them to be my chosen charity.

Thank you for reading... no pressure, but any donations you can afford - no matter how small - would be warmly received.

Thanks, Steve x

------------

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.