Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  

Whilst preparing this page - No children were harmed, no politicians insulted and none of your much valued donations will go towards what you're about to read - it is 100% fully funded and pre-paid by myself.

So what the heck am i doing ?
I am raising money for Shropshire, Staffordshire & Cheshire Blood Bikes by climbing (and most likely, dragging myself) up the highest single free-standing mountain in the world "Mount Kilimanjaro" with its summit of 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) above sea level 🗻 🧗🏻‍♀️ 

8 days trekking, summit temperatures between -7 to -29c 🥶, no shower, no shave, climbing and sleeping in the same clothes, altitude sickness, long-drop toilets, one man tent and all the other creature comforts associated with camping on the side of a giant rock which boasts an overall "all routes" average success rate of 45%.

Quite an interesting report from a Journalist who tackled Kilimanjaro back in 2003 when the reported success rate was just 40% ended his piece with

"Yes, I had handsomely atoned for at least a decade's worth of sedentary emasculation. Yes, there was certainly something almost religiously profound about the first shower back at the Marangu, the first shave and the first beer. Ask me next year if it was worth it and I'll squint at the horizon in enigmatic silence. Ask me now and one of the care assistants will quietly ask you to leave"

Read the full story here (a well worth read!!) 

http://tiny.cc/d851iz

So why the hell am I doing it ?

Initially, because I require yet another personal journey and achievement and climbing Kilimanjaro is certainly going to be a "kick-in-the-nuts" test of mental and physical ability. OK, OK so I'm on another ego trip 🙄

Secondly, because there is so much criticism regarding our NHS (National Health Service) with little recognition for the sheer amount of stress and pressures they endure from the growing number of patients and patients needs whilst coping with an ever-diminishing budget.

At some stage in our lives, we all as do our closest of family and friends, need the help of our NHS and Emergency services and just a little help whether that be financial donation or volunteering can make a massive difference and give us a little more respect for others and ourselves.

And this crazy stunt is happening when?

In a little over 3 weeks actually 😱 I'll be heading off on a connecting flight from Ethiopia to Kilimanjaro and the challenge starts on 20th Feb.

So just who are SSCBB and how do they make a difference?

Blood Bikes is a completely voluntary service funded by the general public essentially requiring just two things, volunteers and financial help.

An urgent volunteer service providing transportation of blood products, for free, to NHS hospitals across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.
It is the early hours of the morning and a hospital urgently requires blood. Hospitals within Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire have little choice but to call a local taxi company to collect and deliver the blood. The hospital would then be charged retail rates for this "service", which can cost between £200-300 per trip!
That's where blood bikes come in!!
As a registered charity, we rely upon the help from volunteers as well as charitable donations from our supporters.

Besides the ever important 24/7/365  (366 this year) transportation of blood between blood banks and hospitals we also collect and deliver blood samples, plasma, platelets, human breast milk for urgent and premature baby needs, cancer blood and tissue samples, faecal matter (for faecal transplants) and even important surgical instruments and documents.

How your donation will help

Simple! It helps fund the bikes, fuel, insurance and running costs incurred in retaining our essential free services.

To reiterate - the entire travel, challenge and all other associated costs are already paid for by myself and absolutely 100% of the donations go direct to the nominated Blood Bike charity.