Hi,

I hope you can help me raise money for this great cause anyone who has lost someone to cancer or knows someone suffering from cancer will understand what a horrible illness this is and if a small amount of money can help someone else's suffering its worth every penny. 

I lost my sister Debbie aged 37 on the 1st of April 2006 to a battle with cancer which is heartbreaking as she was a wife a mother a sister and a friend. I still think of her all the time.

I have always loved going for walks and trekking up mountains and regularly go to Snowdon and have been up Ben Nevis several times. I have always wanted to trek up Everest but this has enabled me to do something I want to do while raising money for charity.

I have been doing intense training since December 2012 and it has been very hard but not as hard about what's to come this will probably be the most difficult thing I do in my life.

My adventure begins at Lukla, where I'll trek to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. i'll have plenty of time to acclimatise to the altitude, following the trail through beautiful valleys, dense forests and across glacial rivers. Finally i'll reach the highpoint at Kalapathar (5,545m) with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. Seeing Mount Everest up close and personal is a moment i will remember forever.

This is a truly unforgettable adventure and by taking part i hope to help macmillan support people affected by cancer during the toughest fight of their lives.

Day by day itinerary

Day 1 Leave London Heathrow for Kathmandu

Day 2: Kathmandu

We arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel in the Thamel area. We then have a half-day to explore the sights, sounds and smells of this frenetic city. Kathmandu is a labyrinth of streets and markets, crowded with exotic produce and friendly people. You could visit the central Durbar Square, packed with Buddhist stupas and home to the Old Royal Palace, buy any last minute trekking equipment, or haggle for souvenirs at the many shops and stalls. Night in hotel. (Dinner not included).  

Day 3: Kathmandu

Today we have a tour around Kathmandu to take in some of the incredible sights, such as Bodhnath and Swayambhunath (more commonly known as the monkey-temple), buddhist temples swathed in prayer-flags, and the many markets around the city. We will see as much as we can before returning to Thamel for our evening meal and final packing session. Night in hotel. (Lunch not included). 

Day 4: Kathmandu – Lukla – Phakding

We take a stunning early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, ‘Gateway to the Everest region’. Lukla is perched at 2840m above the Dudh Kosi or ‘River of Milk’ – so named because of the pale milky appearance of the glacier melt-water. We are now in the region of the legendary Sherpas and you will notice the difference in the faces of the people you meet here to those from the Kathmandu valley. After lunch we trek north towards Phakding (2610m) along a meandering trail which is lined with mani stone walls. These are made with hundreds of stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated with brightly-coloured paints. The Buddhists believe these to be sacred and so as a sign of respect we pass them in a clockwise direction. Night in teahouse.

Trek approx 3 hours 

Day 5: Phakding – Namche

We head onwards and upwards through a forest of rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees. We continue steadily up Namche Hill before arriving at Namche Bazaar (3440m), a delightful mountain village and the Sherpa ‘capital’ which is an important meeting and trading point for the local people. Night in teahouse.

Trek approx 5 – 7 hours 

Day 6: Acclimatisation Day

We take a day to rest in Namche where we can explore the markets (which sell everything a trekker could ever need!) or happily laze around in the sun. Acclimatisation is extremely important and by using these acclimatisation days correctly we greatly improve our chances of reaching our goal of Kalapatar, which lies at an altitude of 5545m.

Days 7 – 9: Namche – Dingboche

The trail turns north-east from Namche along a tributary valley and as our climb approaches the holy ground of Tyangboche the mountain views become more dramatic with every step. From the top, on a ridge above the much-photographed gompa (monastery), we’ll be rewarded with an unrivalled view of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Kwangde and Kangtega. When we reach the picturesque ‘summer village’ of Dingboche (4100m) we take another acclimatisation day. Nights in teahouses.

Trek approx 3 – 6 hours daily 

Days 10 – 13: Dingboche – Kalapatar – Base Camp

We leave Dingboche, passing frozen rivers dotted with stone houses, as the trail ascends gently towards Lobuche (4910m). Over the next two days we climb to the renowned look-out point of Kalapatar (5545m), where we will be rewarded with a massive sense of achievement as we take in the breath-taking surroundings. We then head for base camp where many a climber has set off to climb the world’s highest mountain! Nights in teahouses.

Trek approx 4 – 8 hours daily 

Days 14 - 16: Lobuche – Pengboche – Lukla

We retrace the trail with comparative ease to Lukla, via Pengboche, home to Khumbu’s oldest gompa and yeti relics. Our bodies are acclimatised to the altitude and the further we descend the fitter we feel. Nights in teahouses.

Trek Approx 4 – 8 hours 

Day 17: Lukla – Kathmandu

We fly from Lukla to Kathmandu and spend the rest of the day sightseeing, exploring, shopping or just relaxing in Kathmandu’s numerous cafés and roof-top restaurants before spending the evening celebrating our achievements. Night in hotel (Dinner not included).

Day 18: Kathmandu

Free time to explore Kathmandu before transferring to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

Day 19: Arrive London Uk

Thanks for your support 

Jewls 

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A link if you would like to know a bit more about macmillan and the work they do

http://m.macmillan.org.uk/article/name/aboutus-whatwedo-what-we-do

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