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Those who know us know that we do love a challenge, something epic to work towards especially if there is an adventure to be had along the way. This is without question THE biggest one on both accounts to date. 

Certain life events that have taken place over the last few years have given us clarity to view the world in a different light and WOWZERS it is a big wide world out there.We created ourselves a bucket list and we are ticking our way through it. Our passion for travel and need for adventure continues to grow and so it is with great excitement Team Lallygins are off to Tanzania to climb the largest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

We leave on Boxing Day and will start our accent on 27th December via the Machame Route with the view of breaking the summit at break of dawn on 1st January 2018. 

Mount Kilimanjaro rises approximately 4,900 m (16,000 ft) from its southern base in the plains near the municipality of Moshi to its summit height of 5,895 metres (19,341 ft). It's fair to say this will be both a massive physical and mental challenge that will push us to our limits but we are so IN TO IT! Being physically fit and healthy is too our advantage, but the affect of the high altitude and lower oxygen levels will seriously test our physical and mental fitness.

The reason behind choosing Ditch The Label charity is simple. Many of us have at some stage of our adolescent life been on the receiving end of bullying or discrimination or some kind. We were both greatly effected by bullying in our younger years and we mostly suffered in silence.

School was tough and discrimination for almost anything was a daily torment. Whether it was for the colour of our skin, for being over weight and body shamed, for not being in the top classes, for the clothes we wore or the car our parents drove. If we weren't like the majority we stood out and paid the price for it when all we wanted to do was fit in and be accepted no matter how different we are regarded to be.

The education, support and awareness for anti-bullying was not something that was in place way back when we were growing up. However we have been fortunate enough to overcome this torment and develop into strong, positive people with the drive and determination to make the most of what life has to offer. The hurt does heal but it is true to say that some scars of bullying can remain and can take longer to fade.

Some of our nearest and dearest have recently brought beautiful babies into this world and one day we plan to have children of our own. We don't want for our new generations to suffer and be the brunt of any sort of bullying, but if they are know there is support out there for them. Our children should be free to be who and what they wish to be without a label and without fear of judgement.

Ditch The Label is a digital charity, which means that most of their support is provided online through their website and partnerships with games and social networks. They deliver award winning campaigns that create real societal change. They work with leading creative talent, celebrities, influencers and real people to regularly create powerful campaigns designed to challenge discrimination and bullying behaviours within society, promoting equality and empowering people aged 12-25 to overcome bullying.

Each month thousands of people benefit from their pioneering digital support programs. They provide one-to-one and group help and produce widely used self-help guides and materials. They  don’t just talk about bullying, they help people through things such as mental health, coming out and low self-esteem.

Ditch The Label produce pioneering research to understand the changing nature and trends of bullying. They then use that research as a starting point for innovation and share  findings with other charities,
educators and the general public.

Their campaigns are designed to change how people see themselves and those around them.

They don’t just help those who experience bullying..

Bullying is as a behavioural issue. Like all behaviours, there is a root cause and a remedy for change. They understand the root causes and provide the remedies for change. Not only do they help those who have been bullied, but those who are doing the bullying too, because there is no such thing as a ‘bully’ or ‘victim’. It’s a behaviour and not an identity.

100% of your pledge will go to Ditch The Label. This is an adventure that we wanted to do and will be funded entirely by ourselves. But as it is a big adventure and even greater  challenge why not use it to raise awareness and funding for such a worth cause along the way.

Lets raise some pennies and make a difference!

Thank you for reading.

All our love

Dana & Mike x x

We would just like to give a very special mention and huge praise to Dylan Harris at Dial a Flight for his hard work in putting this trip together for us. We appreciate how time consuming it was with all our specifics. Dial a Flight you've seen us right again for what is our third travel adventure booked with you and we thank you.

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