**STOP PRESS!!**  My trip to Kilimanjaro has been postponed to Jun 08 due to the violence in Kenya.  I am very happy that a sensible decision was made but it does mean having to keep up the training for longer!  Watch this space for news in Jul 08 of how the trip went.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I am so glad that you are able to support my campaign to give back something to the National Autistic Society in return for all the support they have given us and will continue to give James in the future.  I am delighted to report that I have already passed through the £3,000 target with all donations received so far and so have moved my sights to £5,000! 

I am planning 3 major events in the coming year and hve now completed 2 of them.  In July I completed the first of these events - the 24 Peaks Challenge (24 peaks over 2400 feet in the Lake District in 24 hours).  In conditions more befitting January than July I completed the course in a little shy of 28 hours!  This was made up of a 16 hour hike on one day followed by a 12 hour hike the next with only 4 hours sleep in between.  As I trudged through gale force winds and driving rain with only a few metres of visibility through the clouds I thought of my sponsors and the cause to give me the resolve to continue.  Your sponsorship and support really did help me to finish.

On 14th Oct I completed my first and definitely my only marathon!  It was seriously the most gruelling thing I have ever done.  The training was much more time consuming than I had ever imagined and still nothing prepares you for the long slog on the day.  At least it is over now and I know that I am now fitter than ever before and therefore well on the road for Kilimanjaro preparations.  Once again, your support made all the difference and carried me through the seemingly never-ending slog. 

Please help to motivate me through the next phase of my training and in the my final event by pledging money.  I promise that I will not be doing anything like this again (even if I do survive all of this!) so please dig deep for this one appeal and make it worth while.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: the National Autistic Society will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks for your support.

Bridget

BTW - A big thank-you to those who came to the Colours Evening - I was really delighted with the support and it seemed that everyone had a great time.  The NAS will receive £1,000 from the evening although only £800 could go through this site with the balance being sent as cheques direct to the charity.

Huge thanks  to Janet & Adam Martyn-Smith who hosted a children's party to raise funds.  A fabulous £300 was raised so thank you also to those who made donations.