My lovely friend Louise and I are both celebrating milestone birthdays this year, albeit a decade apart!! We have decided we should challenge ourselves and take the opportunity to raise some money for an incredible charity. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is the largest single-site cancer centre in Europe, treating more than 60,000 patients a year.

Louise and I will climb Kilimanjaro in August this year. At an altitude of 5,800 meters this will be no mean feat. It will take us 7 days to get there!

Apart from wanting to support such a fantastic hospital, I have my personal reason. 20 years ago, “The Christie” saved my life after I had a very serious breast cancer diagnosis. I will be forever grateful to the talented and dedicated doctors who treated me and amazing staff who took care of me and supported my family. I am very lucky to be able to take on this challenge and humbled to give back in any small way I can.

Louise, as a GP in Manchester sees first-hand the incredible work this hospital can do and how pioneering developments in early cancer diagnosis and treatment are impacting outcomes.

Whilst it is based in Manchester a quarter of patients are referred from all over the country due to their expertise. “The Christie” are also leaders in research and education. They are the first UK centre to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre, ranked as the most technologically advanced in the world outside North America, and have been named, by the National Institute for Health Research, as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to take part in clinical research studies. Delivering world-class cancer research is at the heart of what they do at “The Christie”, developing new treatments to improve outcomes for patients being a key priority.

We would be most appreciative of any support you can give to spur us on to reach the peak and raise much needed funds to help “The Christie” continue to save lives.