Firstly I'd like to say a big thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On 20th January 2011, Laura Thwaites, Katy Shackleton and I will officially be setting out to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care. Their primary goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer, as cancer affects us all. We can help. As someone, somewhere you know is unfortunately dealing with the affects of cancer and by helping us raise as much money as we can, we can help them in return. For this obvious reason, this is a charity we feel passionately about and a cause we really want you to support too.

Unfortunately, one in three of us will get cancer and there are two million people who are currently living with it in the UK and this set to rise. We are all affected by cancer. It could be our friends, family or even ourselves who need their help. Macmillan Cancer Support not only improves the lives of people affected by cancer, but they provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care. Their primary goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer, as cancer affects us all. We can all help to make difference and make it easier for others to get the support or care in their time of need. We know with your help we can raise a huge amount of money. Please help to make their lives less of an uphill battle.

Please tell all of your friends, families and even your company about us so they can donate too.  As a UK taxpayer, please ticket the Gift Aid box so even more can be donated as everything counts to improving those living with cancer.

As Laura, Katy and I will be taking on the "We Climb Mountains" challenge with Macmillan Cancer Support to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but our first mountain we have to climb is a mountain of fundraising!
For this we need to raise a minimum of £5,000, however this is not enough. The more we raise, the more Macmillan Cancer Support receives and the more help they can provide to people we all know and love. Without Macmillan's support living with cancer would be so much more difficult, they are always at the end of the phone and not only offer advice but invaluable support.

This climb has also been a dream of mine since I was about 8yrs old when I found a roll of film which belonged to my Great Aunt May Trambeth where she climbed Kilimanjaro. I’ve uploaded a few selected pictures into the photo section, so please take a look. In 1941 when working for the Salvation Army, she was given the opportunity to climbed Kilimanjaro where she took photos of her adventure up to the roof of Africa. Together with Laura & Katy, we will be taking a similar journey 70yrs later (take 6 months), where we can make a difference by supporting Macmillan. I’m currently paying (over 85% so far) to cover the cost of the trip so your donation will go to Macmillan and where needed most.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now, giving whatever you can. By helping us, you have contributed to our worthwhile cause with our immense gratitude.

Thank you for your support and being part of something bigger.

We Climb Mountains, so others don't have to!

Jim - Elscorchio.