Story
Thankyou to everyone that has sponsored me my total is still increasing and is now past £4000 thanks to all your support.
I made the summit at around 630am on the 20th of March and the final 6 hours of the 5 days to get there were the hardest and most emtional 6 hours of my life.
Words just cant explain how tough it is at that altitude. To put it in a few lines I dont remember much...All I remember is that I could barely stay awake....I kept falling over....And when I vommitted I felt I lost the will to live.....I was picked up off the floor more times than I can remember and I dont think I have ever feared for life life as much as I did that night. It was the hardest thing I have done and probably the hardest thing I will ever do.
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Last year I hit a point where I felt I needed a challenge to keep myself focused. I quickly realised that whatever I did was a good opportunity to raise funds for a charity of my choice.
Having met Carla a sufferer with Cystic Fibrosis I was then set on the idea of raising money for the trust that supports her illness and funds research to improve the treatment and increase the life expectancy from what was 5 years of age in 1964 and now stands at 31 years old. When you know someone who is this ill and who puts on a braver face than myself knowing there life will be cut short it made me see things in a different way.
On March the 14th I leave the UK for 10 days and head for Tanzania with the aim after trekking for several days, facing temperatures down to -20 and trekking for up to 17 hours a day to finally summit Mount Kilimanjaro the world highest freestanding mountain at 5896m.
This is something I have had to train for and is by no means easy.. Fitness is important but nothing will be able to prepare me for the altitude which could easily prevent me on completing this challenge. On reaching the summit there will be a severe drop in oxygen levels and walking all of a sudden becomes something you struggle with. In the worst case scenario the altitude could cause the lungs to fill with water and fluid could build up on the brain. If these are ignored then life is then put at risk.
I hope you can dig into your pockets and sponsor me for a challenge which is going to take some effort and determination.
Some Info on CF
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease.
Cystic Fibrosis affects over 8,000 people in the UK.
Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.
If two carriers have a child, the baby has a one in four chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.
Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.
Each week, three people lose their fight against Cystic Fibrosis.
Average life expectancy is around 31 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live for longer.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cystic Fibrosis Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Please also take a look at the cystic Fibrosis page to read more.
Many thanks for your support.