Having worked together for six years & developing a very
close friendship along the way, in March this year we find ourselves in San Francisco feeling exhausted after a very long week of hosting events. It was International Women’s Day and we begin to daydream in a rather jaded (possibly slightly tipsy) haze feeling proud of being a women and contemplating how we can further push our own boundaries...
Roll on seven months and on 19th October we are swapping our creature comforts and stiletto heels for hiking boots and backpacks to take on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5896m! A big challenge bearing in mind hiking boots have not previously featured in our wardrobes, even the concept of ‘glamping’ is not in our repertoire and the highest point of altitude for us has involved sipping aperol spritz at the top of a sunny red run in Chamonix!
It's going to be tough and it's not going to be pretty (strictly no lipstick or hair straighteners allowed) however we are determined to push ourselves to the extreme, conquer fears, test our physical and mental strength..and friendship! But we are not just doing this to push and test our own boundaries, we are doing it to raise money and awareness for these two amazing charities; Mind and Legs4Africa.
Mental health touches all of us in one way or another and has featured close to the hearts of Amy and her family over the years. At a time when mental health and well being is being talked about more than ever before there is still more we can do to raise awareness and money for this cause which is still not fully understood and is shamelessly under resourced and under funded. Mind is just one of many charities which tackle the stigma and issues surrounding mental health. For more information please visit https://www.mind.org.uk/
We are keen to support a local cause whilst visiting Africa and came across this fantastic charity, Legs4Africa, which recycles
prosthetic legs from the UK (that would usually end up in landfill), sends them over to Africa and facilitates support groups so amputees in Africa can live more independent and fulfilled lives. Something many of us take for granted. Check out the website - https://www.legs4africa.org
We are self-funding the whole trip (including a few well earned days on the beaches of Zanzibar afterwards) therefore 100% of all donations will go straight to these charities (Abi's page for Legs4Africa and Amy's page for Mind). If you can spare any money for these worthy causes, and to give us even more reason to succeed in this crazy challenge, please kindly donate.
Amy’s JustGiving page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amy-abbott1980?utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_content=Amy-Abbott1980&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Sharethis&utm_term=wJAzGngy5
Wish us luck....
Abi & Amy :) x