Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving pages. You have hopefully read so far why Suzie and I are climbing Kilimanjaro and the fact that we want to raise money for two small, and very important charities.

26th May 1996 is a date that will stay with me, along with many of my close and oldest friends, forever. It was a Sunday, we'd been to church that morning and Mandy drove me home - she had paid her parents a surprise visit that weekend for their birthdays. She was living down at the University of Southampton where she was studying to become a physiotherapist. I remember how happy she was, she sung all the way home from church that day.

Later on that Sunday afternoon, Mandy died from an undiagnosed heart condition at home in front of her sister and my closest friend, Lizzie. Mandy was 21. 

I didn't know until recently that a charity existed to raise awareness of 'undiagnosed' heart conditions; to work hard to reduce the frequency through research; and to offer that hugely important support to the families that go through such a devastating experience. 

Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. Since its formation in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). CRY supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by YSCD. CRY promotes and develops heart screening programmes and funds medical research. CRY publishes and distributes medical information written by leading cardiologists for the general public. CRY funds specialist referral, screening and cardiac pathology services at leading UK hospitals.

I really hope you're able to sponsor Suzie and me...it will definitely motivate us to keep going up the mountain, battle with the inevitable altitude sickness and reach (fingers crossed) the summit (which is due to happen on the 13th February!!)

Thank you so much xx

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