Wow!

I've just gotten back from my trek up Mt Kilimanjaro. It was an incredible experience, and truly epic in every sense. I and my fellow trekkers climbed the tallest mountain in Africa and I'm pleased to say I made it to the summit at 5,895m. The scenery and trekking were amazing, but what really made it special were my fellow trekkers, 27 other people who were crazy enough to be doing the same thing, and who were great company throughout.

In total I've so far raised £3,172 for VSO, which is brilliant and a tribute to your generosity and support. During the trip we got the chance to visit some of the programmes VSO supports in Tanzania. We met shopkeepers who'd been able to start their businesses with the help of loans from VSO, and visited HIV/AIDS help groups - in Tanzania HIV carries a serious stigma and many sufferers are cast out by their own families, so groups like these allow fellow suffers to support and share experiences with each other.

If you'd like to see photos of the whole thing, you can visit http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/54343241 (password: kili2008 - no registration required)

And if you haven't sponsored me yet, but would like to do so, it's still possible to do so until the 12th July. Having seen first hand the kind of programmes where your money will be going I'm more sure than ever that it's a great cause. 

Thanks,

Tom