24 November 2013.

I can hardly believe it, I really do believe `TEAM MILLS` might now achieve the target. Since our return we have had amazing support from family, friends and customers. Thankyou to everybody including  those yet to donate. Please continue to be generous as the new facilities and equipement for Guildfords Royal Surrey are about to get under way and should be ready by the end of 2014 and our own funded researchers are in the final stages of approval for the more reliable urine test.

 

12th October 2013.

8.00am and we made it to the top of Mt. Kalapathar, Everest it may not be, but at 5,647 metres and only 50% oxygen, it was no picnic and almost as hard as Kilimanjaro summit day. However the 10 days of slight headaches and nausea were forgotten as the sun came up over Everest and Lhotse with hardly a cloud in the sky. Only nine out of our team of nineteen completed the ascent so our celebrations were slightly muted out of respect for our mates who werent able to be with us through the effects of fatigue or altitude sickness. After 15 minutes of photos, hugs, handshakes and backslapping it was soon time to return to our overnight camp for breakfast and to shelter from the freezing cold wind. Not forgetting our `Prostate Project` promise to take a couple of pictures to prove that our new beards and Tee Shirts actually made it to the high Himalayas.

 

 

5th August 2013.       Well, we survived N Wales and it did prove to be my hardest walk ever. The distance of 180 miles was ok, but nearly every day included a series of challenging hills and carrying our own kit was nearly the last straw. However it was meant to be training for Everest Base Camp so shouldnt really complain. That is now only six weeks away and also only 4 months of fundraising time left to complete the £2m fundraising for Guildfords new Urology Centre. With the pressure now on my son Simon is joining me for the Everest trip. He claims he is coming to look after me but with his new job keeping him behind a desk I am sure he will find it a challenge as well. This trip is fully paid up so all your donations will go to `Prostate Project`....Thankyou for your support

April 2013       In two weeks time I will be in Prestatyn, N Wales when my walking partner and I will be in the early stages of our OFFA`s DYKE challenge. We hope to complete the 180 miles in nine days in preparation for the Everest Trek in the Autumn. This linear walk along the border of Wales is reputed to be one of the most spectacular, so weather permitting the plan is to have a great time at the same time as raising the profile for the Prostate Project.

 My `Prostate Project` fundraising` is now over one year old and following successful lambing open day which raised over £3000 I have now raised my target to £20 000. Although this is a substantial sum we have to stay committed to achieve the £2.5 million needed for the ambitious new Urology treatment and research centre at Guildfords Royal Surrey Hospital. Please read on to share the adventures this journey has given me, and thankyou for your interest.

Kilimanjaro was most definitely a `Challenge`. My training prepared me for the mountain but nothing prepared me for the sleepness nights, the headaches and nausea from the lack of oxygen at 5,700metres above sea level. The last 1000m of ascent took over 8 hours, sometimes on hands and knees. When we reached the summit at sunrise the emotion and view was so overwheming that I actually cried! ...

Look out Everest Base Camp Autumn 2013, (dodgy knee and God willing)

Please read more to find out why I made this journey......

12 years ago my father and then my uncle died of prostate cancer. My dad was a healthy active retired farmer who enjoyed fishing and hill walking until 12 months before his death. It was a shock to us all and prompted my brother and I to go for a PSA test. We were aged 48 and 50 and both our counts were dangerously high. My biopsies proved inconclusive and I remain `At Risk` with regular blood tests every 3 months. My brother tested positive and his prostate was removed within 3 months.

This almost certainly saved his life!!

With early diagnosis this disease can be beaten, if left or ignored it may well kill you.

Please help me fund our proposed new Urology Unit at the Royal Surrey, they need to find over two million pounds and the least I can do is help in some way.

I am opening my farm to the public on a `Lambing Day` and feel sure this will raise about Two Thousand pounds. To make up my target and hopefully more, In April I am fast walking the 200 miles Wainwright Coast to Coast in nine days, followed by the ascent of Kilimanjaro in October. This commitment demands an incredible amount of training in rain and shine and I maintain my focus with the certain knowledge of how important it will be for everybody in the South East to have our own Urology Centre of Excellence.

All expeditions are paid for, so all your donations will go to Prostate Project.

Please be as generous as you are able and thankyou on behalf of all who will benefit from this new Urology Centre of Excellence.