Ben Nevis - 4406ft   Summit reached at 14:00 28 September 2010  -  11 hours; over ten miles of mountainside -   Low cloud, minus,  17degrees due to a fierce wind chill factor and winds gusting up to 50mph. 

At the age of 60 not many people believed I could achieve my dream and climb this mountain, however there were three friends who did and together we formed Team Nevis.  A fourth friend was not able to come, but she believed in me too and supported me and became one of my treasured trainers for this expedition.

My doctor was immensely supportive and it was her affirmation of belief that helped me overcome my final doubts and decide to make this achievement more than a personal challenge but a challenge that would benefit others too.

Over the last ten years I have undergone seven lots of surgery, four of which were on my feet.   Immobility due to having both legs in plaster and walking with crutches meant that for some years I have felt really imprisoned in my own home and, as an outdoors person, I found this to be really debilitating. 

Two years ago I fell and injured my left knee very badly leaving me with further walking problems, and this time last year I was awaiting my final lot of surgery.  Arthritis and injury, therefore, limits my weight bearing making climbing and descending a real challenge.  Finally Eastertide 2010 I fell and took an injury that affected the shoulder joint rendering it impossible to carry a  day pack. The odds seemed to be being stacked up against my endeavours.

Considering my injuries many of my friends believed I would have to give up my dream but my doctor and Team Nevis did not give up on me and I was more determined than ever when I thought of what one person  had said to me,  "Don't be silly, you are too old, have been too ill, and have too many health problems to go through with this."

I WANTED THAT MOUNTAIN.

After several months of strife and determined training the day finally dawned and we were heading up to the Scottish Highlands.  Passing through Glen Coe stunned me into absolute awesome wonder,  and I felt myself inwardly filling up emotionally.  Reality dawned, I was heading for Fort William and the next day would be ascending Ben Nevis itself.

The euphoria of reaching that summit almost overwhelmed me, however I have NEVER felt so completely happy and content in all of my life.  I had climbed more than a mountain, I had found me, I had proved to me that I could achieve my goal despite the odds stacked against me if I believed in myself.  This was the real mountain.  The mental mountain to overcome difficulties and obstacles that may seem insurmountable.  

This is what it is like to fight against something bigger than yourself, that seems to take hold of your whole being and your way of life.  This is what each of those desperately sick children do every day throughout their treatment.  Uncomplaining, models of determination and courage, they climb their own mountains and I was in awe of them too.

One of my surgeons told me this:

"Every patient that does not have visitors, or family or loved ones to support and sustain them and be close throughout their treatment or recovery will, as has been proven, take longer to recover.  Some, do not but simply give up."

And, if what that surgeon told me was true of me then it sure is true of these darling children.

It is a costly expense to support and be with a child at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and some find it nigh impossible to sustain that expense.  And here is where you and I come in.

By donating money we can help those parents, family, loved ones be there for their desperately sick child through their stay or at least in part of that stay.  Your money will provide the funding for Bursary help,  and other vital needs in that hospital so that each child will get the best care and support possible.

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