Latest update:

5985 metres, the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, reached at 07.10 on Thursday 14th October. More info and photos to follow when I get back. Return to UK tomorrow morning (Sunday 17th Oct). Thanks for your sponsorship!!

 

Tuesday 5th October: All packed and ready to go. I can only take 15kg on the mountain, so have had to choose wisely. Tomorrow: Train to Paddington, then an overnight flight to Nairobi in Kenya. The climb starts for real on Friday Morning. Wish me luck, or better still make a contribution!!!

 

Friday 17th September: Have now got all the kit ready to go. 2 of the team have been injured this week, so are under Doctor's orders to rest. I have done my fastest ever 10 kilometre run on Thursday night in 38 minutes (after Kilimanjaro, I intend to beat my fastest 1/2 marathon time of 1hour 19 minutes achieved in 1994). 2 weeks left to go..........

 

Fri 4th Sept: From the end of this weekend forward no more alcohol (Ed Maltby's 60th first on Friday, then Doug Litten's 80th on Saturday). Final prepartions begin now with 4 weeks to go. All injections done and a team meeting on Wednesday. Fund raising effort continues.........

The story:

In early October 2010, I (along with 5 work colleagues) will be climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5895m high). We will be away from the UK for 12 days and have personally paid nearly £2000 each for this pleasure.

We are all separately raising money for charities that are local to where we live: I have chosen to raise money towards the refurbishment and renovation of Lympstone's Village Hall.

I have been in training for nearly 6 months. So far I have run nearly 505 miles, walked a further 455 miles and have swam 1105 lengths of the local swimming pool. Some of you may have noticed that that I appear a little smaller - In training, I have lost 40 pounds in weight (and at least 5 of my toe nails have fallen off too).

At the bottom of this text, I have started to list the times that I have used the Lympstone Village Hall over the last 35 years, and the list is long (and growing as I remember more things)

The Hall is a vital hub for Lympstone's community, providing many different services (incuding hosting the pre-school) that numerous people benefit from.

A comment from Don Mildenhall (LVH committe Chairman): "Lympstone’s Village Hall has been doing great service to Nick and thousands of other villagers since 1933. Now we’re raising £140,000 to make essential major repairs such as a new roof, and also to bring its facilities up-to-date, with new lighting, a new kitchen and improvements all round. Most of the money has been raised in the village by around 30 fundraising events. Now Nick is aiming high and going the furthest to raise funds. We’re very grateful to Nick and all who sponsor him – it will help us make this vital village and community facility really fit for purpose for another 75 years".

 

I have put myself out a great deal to train for the impending ascent. I am asking for two things: 1. Your support for the climb; 2. Sponsorship, by way of donations, towards the renovations to Lympstone's Village Hall.

100% of what you donate will go to the hall.

Thanks very much,

Nick Millington.

 

35 years of my use of the Hall (in no particular order):

1. 800, or so, school meal times;

2. 2 school plays on the stage;

3. Numerous children's parties as a child;

4. 1 broken arm;

5. A couple of Art Exhibitions;

6. 2 Cafe Theatres;

7. 3 Village concerts (1 of which i ended up on stage!);

8. Numerous Parish Council Meetings (as a Councillor);

9. A few games of snooker (where is the table now?);

10. A couple of Sailing Club Xmas doo's;

11. This year's Tennis Club dinner and dance;

12. Voting in 4 elections;

13. My wedding evening celebrations;

14. My Sister's wedding celebrations;

15. Other peoples' wedding celebrations;

16. Last year's Lympstone School Ball;

17. 1 Village Hall committee meeting;

18. A property Auction (house in Church Path).

This list is growing as i remember things. If anyone else can quote other times they have seen me in the Hall, email millington.nick@gmail.com and i'll 'grow' the list - What a versatile and essential part of Lympstone's community........