'There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more than their disability'

On the 25th of December 2023, I will be climbing Kilimanjaro to raise money for MenCap, a charity that envisages a world where people with learning disabilities and associated conditions have an equal right to respect, opportunity and choice.  

Why Kilimanjaro?

In July 2013, I was away with my friends in Devon when I had a cough I could not shift, and I couldn’t swim up from underneath the deep water in the sea. When I returned home, I went to the GP and was immediately sent to the hospital where it was discovered that I had a spontaneous pneumothorax (hole in my lung) and my lung had collapsed by 80%. I was informed I was lucky to have not collapsed or fainted due to the lack of oxygen my body was receiving.  

After undergoing surgery, I sustained nerve damage to part of the left side of my chest where I still have reduced feeling sensation, my immune system was compromised, I could not play sports (one of my biggest passions) the way I previously could running out of oxygen, unable to keep up, and I was told I would never be able to engage in any extreme activities again due to the risk of my lung re-collapsing and being unfixable. This affected all aspects of my life at home, in my education, and in my relations. 

However as of October 2023, I am fully fit to play all sports, and I have been given the all clear to undertake all activities with no concerns. This inspired me to fulfil one of my ambitions of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in one of my favourite locations in the world (East Africa, my parent’s birthplace) for a cause that I hold a great passion for.

Why Christmas? 

It is a time of celebrating love, hope and joy. It is a time of renewed hope, healing, and strength. It is a time to think of others and how to bring happiness and love to others. For this reason, my own personal challenge is to step away from indulgences during this season and give back to the wider community around me.

Why Mencap?

Right now, people with a learning disability or associated conditions face inequalities in every area of life with almost 1 in 3 young people spending less than 1 hour outside their home on a typical Saturday. 

They face barriers with late diagnosis; in being recognised and understood; in having access to inclusive education; in finding a job and having the right to work; in developing friendships; in accessing activities in their local community and receiving good quality healthcare. 

Having worked with these individuals over the years through the medium of education, creative arts such as dancing and actively listening, I have chosen to support Mencap in their goals to achieve:

- Inclusivity : Support for those with learning disabilities to be treated with respect, dignity, and equality.

- Person centred support and planning : Working with carers and families to support an individual’s needs and strengths.

- Equal access : To services and opportunities in education, employment, healthcare, transport, and community life.

- Safeguarding : To ensure they feel safe in communities without the risk of abuse, hate crime and discrimination.

- Hidden disabilities : Support in earlier diagnosis, raising awareness, creating platforms to support and empower these people.

I hope you can support me in my aim to raise awareness and achieve equality-choice-opportunity-respect for those with learning disabilities and associated conditions, by supporting my fundraising goal of a minimum of £3,​000 for Mencap. 

Love Jasmine xxx