Nikki's Great Wall of China Trek 2017 page
Nikki Field is raising money for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity
Story
WE DID IT!! It was an amazing adventure with a fantastic bunch. Thank you all so much for your sponsorship - your support kept me going!!
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I used to be a big fan of Blondie, and a particular song of theirs struck a nerve: "Die Young, Stay Pretty". At 21 I drew up my own 'bucket list' of experiences to complete by 30 (my 21 year old self thought that if I wasn't dead by then, I'd be so old that I might as well be!), which meant that on various subsequent birthdays I could be found floating in the Dead Sea, standing in the centre of Red Square, hugging myself in my first classic car, and gazing out over the rooftops of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. (In retrospect I would not have chosen my December birthday as the marker date as apart from Israel all these significant events took place in sub-zero temperatures - just in case anyone is thinking of doing the same!)
So I hit 30, was still breathing and then life took over. Aspirations became more career and family oriented, and the bucket list lay in some forgotten corner, gathering dust.
Until now! Trekking the Great Wall of China was one of the biggest original challenges on the list, and I am now in a position to give it a go. I am an unfit middle-aged single mother, but my spirit is strong and I hope to do something (quite a lot) about the body between now and September. The children are also desperate to get rid of me for a week.
There is an option of booking a place with the whole cost being met by sponsorship, but I don't believe anyone else but me should pay for the trip so I will be paying the £1850 trek cost myself. However, a condition of acceptance on the trek is that I raise a minimum of £1200 for The Wiltshire Air Ambulance, which I am delighted to support. Knowing that fulfilling my personal quest will be helping this brilliant charity may just help me manage to put one foot in front of the other when it gets tough ("60kms in 5 days up and down thousands of stairs with a backpack"). I'm not sure which is going to be more challenging - staying in 'basic lodges' or trekking un-renovated sections of the Wall - but I really hope to complete the walk and bring back some good stories.
If you are able to sponsor me, it would be fantastic and a great incentive to keep up the training knowing you are supporting me.
Thank you! (I'll let Blondie have the last words)......
"Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty
Deteriorate in your own time
Tell 'em you're dead and wither away
Are you living alone or with your family?
A dried up twig on your family tree?
Are you waiting for the reaper to arrive?
Or just to die by the hand of love?
Love for youth, love for youth
So, die young and stay pretty
Leave only the best behind
Slipping sensibilities
Tragedy in your own dream
Oh, you sit all alone in your rocking chair
Transistor pressed against an ear
Were you waiting at the bus stop all your life?
Or just to die by the hand of love?
Love for youth, love for youth
So live fast 'cause it won't last
Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty
Dearly near senility (dearly near senility)
Was it good or maybe you won't tell?
Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I used to be a big fan of Blondie, and a particular song of theirs struck a nerve: "Die Young, Stay Pretty". At 21 I drew up my own 'bucket list' of experiences to complete by 30 (my 21 year old self thought that if I wasn't dead by then, I'd be so old that I might as well be!), which meant that on various subsequent birthdays I could be found floating in the Dead Sea, standing in the centre of Red Square, hugging myself in my first classic car, and gazing out over the rooftops of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. (In retrospect I would not have chosen my December birthday as the marker date as apart from Israel all these significant events took place in sub-zero temperatures - just in case anyone is thinking of doing the same!)
So I hit 30, was still breathing and then life took over. Aspirations became more career and family oriented, and the bucket list lay in some forgotten corner, gathering dust.
Until now! Trekking the Great Wall of China was one of the biggest original challenges on the list, and I am now in a position to give it a go. I am an unfit middle-aged single mother, but my spirit is strong and I hope to do something (quite a lot) about the body between now and September. The children are also desperate to get rid of me for a week.
There is an option of booking a place with the whole cost being met by sponsorship, but I don't believe anyone else but me should pay for the trip so I will be paying the £1850 trek cost myself. However, a condition of acceptance on the trek is that I raise a minimum of £1200 for The Wiltshire Air Ambulance, which I am delighted to support. Knowing that fulfilling my personal quest will be helping this brilliant charity may just help me manage to put one foot in front of the other when it gets tough ("60kms in 5 days up and down thousands of stairs with a backpack"). I'm not sure which is going to be more challenging - staying in 'basic lodges' or trekking un-renovated sections of the Wall - but I really hope to complete the walk and bring back some good stories.
If you are able to sponsor me, it would be fantastic and a great incentive to keep up the training knowing you are supporting me.
Thank you! (I'll let Blondie have the last words)......
"Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty
Deteriorate in your own time
Tell 'em you're dead and wither away
Are you living alone or with your family?
A dried up twig on your family tree?
Are you waiting for the reaper to arrive?
Or just to die by the hand of love?
Love for youth, love for youth
So, die young and stay pretty
Leave only the best behind
Slipping sensibilities
Tragedy in your own dream
Oh, you sit all alone in your rocking chair
Transistor pressed against an ear
Were you waiting at the bus stop all your life?
Or just to die by the hand of love?
Love for youth, love for youth
So live fast 'cause it won't last
Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty
Dearly near senility (dearly near senility)
Was it good or maybe you won't tell?
Die young, stay pretty
Die young, stay pretty