Having recently visited Gambia with my friend Debbie we fell in love with the beautiful place and friendly people. Yes it is a poor country and they are in desperate need of educating the people regarding rubbish, sanitation etc but it’s just a case of not knowing, not understanding and not having the resources.

We in the UK and other developed countries all have our own pressures and struggles every day of our lives. So do these people but theirs is a struggle to feed their families and pay for their education. They don’t have free education as we do here. Some days it’s just a struggle to feed the children let alone provide clean water in some areas.

When I returned I decided to start working towards a project in the area I visited. Since then I have been invited to join a team of 10 women from 10 different countries to climb Kilimanjaro - the highest peak in Africa and ranking 4th in the world. We are all part of Lions Clubs International and all volunteer and give freely of our time and efforts to try and help others.

Our aim is to raise $100,000 all to go to a children's educational project in Africa. We have chosen the Amrita Center in Kenya - this center can have anywhere between 250-300 orphans at any one time. We want to build 4 classrooms and a toilet block for them. With an education these children will have a chance to get out of the nearby slums and break the cycle of poverty.

I am nothing special. A just past middle aged mum of 2 grown up daughters. I’m totally unfit and need to get some serious training in place but I am more than willing to accept this challenge. Not only is it a once in a life time opportunity for me it’s a great cause as all us mum's get a bit teary eyed with any projects involving children.

However I need all your help. I am totally committed to train to give me the very best opportunity to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. I need your help to raise funds. Not only do we have a target to raise for the project, all costs for the trip have to be raised personally for each individual so I have a huge target to achieve and can only do this with help from everyone and all your friends and friends of friends and friends of their friends and total strangers!!!

Please consider sponsoring me in this challenge. Maybe you know of someone or a corporate firm who would be willing to sponsor us ? Either me personally or the team. A sponsor who could donate some equipment in return for us wearing their logo, being detailed as a sponsor on all our presentations etc.

Any help willingly accepted.