Every year I do something crazy in order to raise money for a worthwhile charity. First I jumped out of a plane (solo) to raise money for Refuge who work hard to help women who are the victims of domestic violence. Then I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa (this challenge had me in tears almost daily) to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice. The next challenge is even bigger and for an amazing cause… and if I’m honest I am regretting my commitment to do it already!

The Challenge

Not one volcano but 4 volcanoes, including the highest active volcano in the world, in 12 days setting off in August! Now I said it was a biggie…

I shall head out to Ecuador on my own to meet the other crazies that will be joining me (a small team of approximately 8), and first trek Pasochoa and El Corazon Volcanoes, then I shall attempt Iliniza Volcano, and if that wasn’t enough… lets tap on something that’s even bigger than Mount Kilimanjaro just for a finisher… the final volcano is Cotopaxi which is the worlds highest active volcano which stands at a whopping 5,897m (19,347ft)… and it gets worse… the summit is largely made up of a nice big ice glacier! So that means that the summit climb, which will start around midnight, will involve crampons and ice picks… oh and have I mentioned the altitude sickness or shall I leave that to your imagination?!?!?

 

I would say that I would blog daily about the adventures but I am not sure that these volcanoes, although active themselves. have active wifi connection! I shall however keep  a diary and be sure to write up the quite literal ups and downs on my return!

The Charity

Warchild are a small charity of just 29 individuals who are trying to change the world! And they are. They are directly changing the lives of tens of thousands of children and they really are making things happen.

The reason I have chosen Warchild is because of the Democratic Republic of Congo where conflict has already claimed more than five million lives – which makes this the planets deadliest conflict since World War II… and yet it hardly ever even makes it into the news!! But despite horrific levels of sexual violence and millions of people displaced from their homes and schools, it remains Africa’s forgotten war.

Although the conflict has officially finished, much of the country remains desperately poor and the continuing fighting and widespread sexual violence in the eastern regions make it one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a woman.

One of the biggest problems that organisations like the United Nations and African Governments are facing is the corruption. The gangs, which use child soldiers often have connections with local governments too so no one really knows who they can trust.

Warchild are making a big difference to the innocent children in the Democratic Republic of Congo – I wont list them all here but you should check out what Warchild are doing there as well as working with children in others areas of the world including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Uganda and in the UK too.

These guys are committed to making a difference… can we help?

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.