Our dream to climb Kilimanjaro is only a few weeks away. We booked the trip in Dec 2019 but due to Covid and health interruptions we have had to move the trip 3 times.

The injections are done, insurance paid, equipment bought and the training is happening. It is all starting to feel real.

We will be taking the Lemosho route up to the Summit Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters, taking 8 days trekking and camping for 8 nights on the mountain at various heights.

DAY 1 - Join trip Moshi

DAY 2 - Trek from Lemosho Glades to Big Tree Forest Camp (2,780m)

DAY 3 - Walk across grassy moorland to Shira One Camp (3,500m)

DAY 4 - Walk through upland desert to Shira Two Camp (3,900m)

DAY 5 - Trek via Lava Tower (4,640m) to Barranco (3,960m)

DAY 6 - Trek Karanga Camp (4,035m) via the Barranco Wall

DAY 7 - Trek across compacted scree to Barafu Camp (4,640m)

DAY 8 - Kilimanjaro summit ascent (5,895m); descend to Millennium Camp (3,790m)

DAY 9 - Descend through rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,630m); drive to Moshi

We finish our trip with a 4-day safari

I have worked in the health and fitness industry for 34 years. I am very passionate about raising awareness about the benefits of exercise. For the past 10years I have focused on delivering and developing the Strictly No Falling Programme lead by Age UK Derby and Derbyshire. Strictly No Falling is a Derbyshire wide falls prevention programme offering evidenced based strength and balance classes in community and care home settings.

Falls are preventable and not a part of ageing. Following a fall, it can feel like climbing a mountain to regain independence and confidence, it can be an uphill struggle. We need to raise awareness that healthy ageing is a key part to preventing a fall and including strength and balance activity into our daily life to keep bones and muscles strong can help prevent serious injury such as a hip fracture.

Support us to help older people climb the mountain of every day life. Anything you are able to donate will go towards helping older people in our local community. To follow my journey please follow the AGEUKDD social media pages.

Thank you so much