I was born in London but grew up in Africa. First in Tanzania and later in Kenya. Africa has always been my spiritual home.  We all have a responsibility to protect this beautiful planet that we share with so many other species, including the iconic 'Lord of the Jungle', the Lion. Our reason for being on this planet is not to wantonly slaughter anything we can get sighted in the crosshairs of a rifle or crossbow just for sport or greed.   We should be protecting other species, not systematically wiping them out. There are approximately only 15,000 Lions left in the wild on the whole of the vast African continent. Wild Lions are already extinct in 42% of African countries. A disgraceful situation, due mainly to poaching with the abominable practice of Canned Hunting threatening to wipe out Wild Lions in Southern Africa. At this rate they wil be extinct in less than ten years.

As Patron of LIONAID I'm going to climb Kilimanjaro on July 9th 2015. Our Lions need us to take drastic action right NOW so  Please support me with your donation. I appreciate any amount you can spare which will help us raise crucial funding to enable LIONAID to protect the iconic lion from this rapid decline into extinction.

Lion Aid is a wonderful charity doing much needed conservation work to help preserve the future of Lions, including introducing legislation prohibiting hunters from being able to import "wild" animal trophies into their own countries. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are going to a wonderful cause very close to my heart. 

Update on training! Going well but gruelling to say the least! Tramping up and down small mountains, actually I think they're small hills but feel like mountains! Breaking in the 'boots' and carrying the weighted backpack to get used to friction spots. All very technical !! 

Training going well and the boots are definitely worn in!! Slight panic setting in as I check the equipment list which is three fulscap pages long! It seems anything to do with mountain climbing is very expensive, but very necessary! Going for immunisation jabs, applied for Tanzanian Visa and about to pay for Insurance. Onward and definitely upward! 

Slight setback! Had stupid fall and bashed my knee. So I've got a big egg, rapidly going blue on the side of my knee! Training has had to slow down a bit but can still do upper body strength exercises in the gym so all is not lost! Haven't heard of half the equipment I need but it's obviously required. Now we're in June I can say when asked, that I'm climbing NEXT MONTH!!

Stepping up the trekking as I get close to departure date. Got all my equipment..finally! Apart from a balaclava, can't find one small enough but a minor detail in the the great desert that is mountain climbing equipment! Getting very excited but a bit scary I must admit. Just want to get to the top for the sake of our amazing Lions!

I think the Universe is trying to tell me something! Had tripped over something last Sunday and severely sprained my foot. Came up like a balloon, literally! and went black all over and under my foot. Absolute agony and was totally bed ridden for three days. Tons of ice and Arnica and six days down the line there is a vast improvement. With only 10 days to go before I fly to Tanzania it's a touch and go situation but I'm determined to make it. Going to get to the summit of Kilimanjaro if it kills me. Never hurt myself this much in my life!, ok universe, you've got my attention! Sadly, no gym this week, been in too much pain to do anything, my equipment is all laid out to check before packing and taunting me to get back on both feet! The Lions wouldn't give up and neither will I! 

Well here we are! At last! Just about to have my last sleep in my own bed for the next ten days! Foot doing ok but not as good as I'd hoped so I'll  put it out of my mind  and keep looking up to the summit and I'll be there in no time! Packed and re packed several times and finally satisfied... I think. More ice on the foot in the morning and then off to Heathrow. So looking forward to standing on the Top of Africa and I shall ROAR for our Lions. I hope I can hear you all roaring back. Thank you everyone for your generous support. Couldn't have done it without you.... Literally. You'll never know how much your generous donations have helped save the Wild African Lion. I and they are eternally grateful for your concern and kindness. Hasta la vista baby! 

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