<p>In one of my more stupid moments, I've agreed to trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2012 for the Meningitis Research Foundation.</p> <p>I'll be travelling to Tanzania to trek up the mountain over six days from August 27th 2012, meaning I'll be going up against the bitter cold, altitude sickness and the physical strain trekking 5895m puts on you. So if you like the idea of me being curled up in a frozen ball, unable to stand and being violently sick on a mountain in Africa, then please donate.</p> <p>But on a serious note, the charity I'm fundraising for is the Meningitis Research Foundation, which actively searches for vaccinations and cures for both meningitis and septicaemia. These two diseases are both potentially deadly and extremely fast acting, which is why a cure has to be found as soon as possible. There are some vaccines already in production, but they are simply not enough, which is why the raising of awareness, another of the MRF's functions, is so crucial. Your donation will go towards raising awareness and research into a new vaccine which recently began and is at a crucial stage. Simply put, your donation goes towards saving lives.</p> <p>Thank you so much for your donation, or even taking the time to view my page, even if you can't donate, simply passing my page along to others can help, and it would be brilliant if you could do that. Also, if you're a taxpayer please don't forget to check the Gift Aid box which will allow the MRF to gain even more from your donation.&nbsp;</p> <p>For more information on what the Meningitis Research Foundation does, visit their website:</p> <p><a href="http://www.meningitis.org/">http://www.meningitis.org/</a></p> <p>And to see the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia visit:</p> <p><a href="http://www.meningitis.org/symptoms">http://www.meningitis.org/symptoms</a></p> <p>Also if you have another moment spare please read and sign this petition to help include meningitis vaccinations within standard child immunisations in the UK:</p> <p><a href="http://www.meningitis.org/sign">http://www.meningitis.org/sign</a></p> <p>Due to there being a strong internet signal all the way up the mountain, I will be tweeting and posting pictures as I go up the mountain, so if you're interested in my progress, feel free to follow me at:</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/WilliamBrophy">http://twitter.com/#!/WilliamBrophy</a></p> <p>However I do warn you, you'll have to put up with my other tweets, which are nearly all about football :)</p> <p>Thank you once again for helping me to take part in this fantastic adventure for a deserving cause.</p> <p>William Brophy</p>