Update 7th May 2007: Just to let you all know, I did it! As you can see from the updated photo, I got to Everest Base Camp in one piece and am now back in the UK - slightly shaken and stirred from the experience but glad to tell the tale!

Update 19th April 2007: Well, this is it then! I'm heading off tomorrow, wish me luck, sponsor me lots while I'm away and I'll tell you all about it when I get back!!!!!

Update (almost) April 2007: Only 1 month to go now, and I'm getting a bit nervous......but thought I'd tell you a bit more about why I'm doing this trek. Apart from wanting to raise as much money for Katharine House, it's also a big personal challenge for me. I booked this trip over 1 year ago, in the middle of a rather bleak phase, needing something positive and exciting to focus on, whilst also wanting to mark my 30th birthday in a special way (yes I turn 30 very soon)! It would be fair to say that the journey from there to now has been amazing in more ways than one. As I approach the deadline, I can't believe a whole year has gone by! I'm really excited about the trek,  I just need to think about the next challenge for when I get back.... ;-)

Update February 2007: Wow, what can I say apart from massive thanks again to everyone who has sponsored me...your generosity has blown me away. It's very humbling....

For anyone who still wants to sponsor me, don't be put off by the fact that I've reached my target. Katharine House Hospice seriously needs every single penny, so the more money I can give to them, the more that they can do to help their patients. The hospice is still desperately short of cash, so all money is very gratefully received :-) p.s. I'm still short of kendal mint cake if anyone can donate any to a worthy cause!

Update January 2007: A massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. Your support has been amazing and I promise to make you all proud by getting to Base Camp with a smile on my face ;-) My fundraising is going well, but the more the merrier so please feel free to donate as much as you like! I hope you like the updated photo as well!

p.s if anyone has any decent mountain gear they'd like to lend me, I could do with a 4 seasons sleeping bag, a thermarest (a clever little mattress thingy!), walking poles, ruck sacks, head-torch, oh and some kendal mint cake......

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Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online...........please please please........

If I need to persuade you to sponsor me, let me tell you a little bit about what I'll be doing, and why.

On the 20th April 2007 I'm heading off to Nepal, where I start a 17 day trek to and from Base Camp Everest. I'll be treking approximately 115 kilometres, reaching an altitude of 5545 metres. The accommodation will be tents, the food is cooked en-route, it gets down to -10 degrees at night and the toilets are going to be basic (apparently of the "squat and drop" variety!)! It's going to be hard work!

I'm doing all this in aid of Katharine House Hospice, which is based in my home town of Stafford, Staffordshire. I've been supporting the hospice for a number of years, but as the funds started to run low in the hospice coffers I felt that I wanted to do something big and daring to try to help them out. The hospice does such an amazing job, providing palliative care to adults in and around Stafford. They are independently funded which means that they have to rely heavily on donations. It costs £1.5m a year to fund the hospice, which is £2.85 every minute!

I hope I've persuaded you to sponsor me......

Many thanks for your support.

Jodie ;-)

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Katharine House Hospice will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.