In February 2016, myself and twenty three other explorers, comprising nineteen from Gama Aviation plc plus five friends are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to try and change the lives of people living in part of Tanzania.                                                 

In Kiomboi hospital in Tanzania, there is only enough water for one hour a day. The hospital handles approximately 8,000 births a year together with other medical operations for the region. Because of the lack of water, heavily pregnant women have to collect dirty water from the unclean river to bring to the hospital to use for the birth of their own child. After they have given birth, they then have to walk back to the river to wash. That is the same river water that many of them will drink, cook with, wash their newborn babies with.

Having given birth twice myself I know what an indescribable, wonderful moment it is to finally welcome your baby. But giving birth is also a huge physical effort, and can be brutal business. I have always felt incredibly lucky to birth my children in a safe, supportive, clean environment exactly how I wished to. But this is far from the norm; far too many do not have that luxury.

The pictures below show the hospital, the appalling conditions in the operating theatre, and a heavily pregnant woman carrying her own water to use to give birth. Staff at the hospital do not have enough water to wash their hands between deliveries, or clean their tools with. Sheets cannot be washed properly, floors cannot be cleaned. All this dramatically increases the risk of sepsis, which is ripe in the area, an infection which for babies, can kill. The mortality rate and severe infection rate is high. 

After our son was born, I had to have a blood transfusion as I had lost so much blood; not sure how I would have fared in Tanzania. My oldest friend of nearly 30 years would not have survived either of her births without medical intervention. My sister-in-law will give birth to a beautiful baby girl in the beginning of next year and I am grateful she will receive the best medical care, as I want her and the baby safe back home.

By sponsoring the climb, you can help me and my fellow climbers to give this hospital a permanent, clean fresh water supply. You can help us to give women a safe environment to give birth in.

In a dedicated project for Gama Aviation's climb, together with WaterAid, we will be providing toilets, showers, baths, hand washing sinks, and hygiene education. We will provide the facilities such that midwives and doctors will be able to clean their hands, and their instruments and wash babies and the mothers in clean water. Women can wash, drink safe water, and give their babies the future that they must surely deserve.

As an added incentive, I am delighted that this project is part of WaterAid’s Deliver Life appeal, which has matched funding from the UK Government. This means that every £1 donated to WaterAid’s Deliver Life appeal between 10 November and 10 February will be doubled by the UK Government – meaning we can help twice as many mothers and babies stay safe and well.

Our children are in beautiful health and I am grateful for that every day. Please help us to give at least a few mothers, babies and their families the luxury that we take for granted to birth in a safe environment. Keeping mothers, and babies alive.

Every Pound that we donate will make a real difference.

Thank you.