In the spring I was bitten BIG time by the hill walking/climbing/trekking/rambling bug. I set myself the challenge of climbing Snowdon, our highest mountain and started regular training walks on the Clent Hills to build & improve my fitness.

On 6 June I did it. I was over the moon. I achieved my goal and as I sat at the top, looking out at the amazing panoramic view, I was so content to be in such a beautiful, peaceful place. I said then - before I'd even got back to the bottom that I’d do this again – soon, together with a list of other big peaks that I wanted to conquer. I was now well & truly bitten...

Sadly my plans have changed. I discovered I have a different mountain to climb and this one will be a lot tougher to beat. This one I can’t do on my own. I’m going to need a lot of support. It’s not going to be fun and it’s not going to be easy.

So, before my new journey might start to get difficult – I announced here that I’m heading up Snowdon again soon & whilst I'm able. This time I'm doing it primarily to raise funds for an excellent good cause – Macmillan Cancer Support. I've seen first hand the wonderful work that they do and the people that they do it for. Having lost two close relatives to this dreadful disease - I can't think of a better cause to support. I'm also doing it for me as now - it'll probably be the only peak I'll be able to climb.

Snowdon's summit is 1085 meters above sea level and so I set my target as £1 per meter - £1085. I was then and am still hoping to raise much more than that for these lovely helpful, caring and dedicated people. Initially I couldn't set an exact date due to lots of hospital appointment activity.

A week ago I learned that I had cancer of my oesophagus. Initially I was looking at chemotherapy & radiotherapy in the very near future - once I'd had a biopsy and a further different type of scan. Today - I learned the rest of the story. It is much more extensive than first thought as it also involves my trachea and has already affected the lymph nodes in my neck & trachea. It's now quite likely that my only option will be limited to palliative care...

I'm sorry that this is harsh and not something you might want to read. It's very harsh and not something I ever wanted to write....... We live in a real world and sometimes it can be a very cruel one

Last time I went up quite happily on my own. This time my lovely daughter Lisa is coming with me. And now that the appointments have sorted themselves out - we have a set date. We are going on Wednesday 27 July - Bring it On!!!

So I'm asking yet again for your support - for your donations to Macmillan Cancer Support - not to me. I know that every single penny will be used to help many others and their loved ones and their families who also have their own 'Mountain to Climb…'
Let’s do it together… Let's smash that target!

And smash it we did! At the last peep it stands at £1,447.23 - that is amazing and we can't thank you all enough. Every penny from every donation, large and small - will go towards helping others

We went up on Wednesday in far from ideal weather changing wildly from warm to freezing, clear to fog & mist and all within minutes. And following heavy rainfall over night prior to our effort, cascading water down many of our paths made the conditions underfoot treacherous in places. It took us 4hrs 22mins to get up and 4hrs 35mins to get back down. Poor Lisa suffered after developing knee problems half way up. By the time we reached the bottom she had blistered feet and both knees knackered but never did she consider quitting as this was for a particular good cause. She deserves a medal and I'm so proud of her!

Our pot will continue to grow with promised donations still yet to come in and the Justgiving link will stay open. So there's still time to chip in if you haven't already.

We are both proud of our achievement and so pleased that we chose this particular cause, Macmillan Cancer Support. Apart from the financial side we're both overwhelmed at the love and support that we've both received and been shown by our friends and some of the beautiful comments on Facebook and in personal messages we've received. We love you too!

Thank you... Bob & Lisa xx