Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Firstly I want to thank you so much for visiting my page. It is not in my nature ask for donations and this just show how important this cause is to me. 

I have been a practicing Veterinarian for just over 20 years now. In that time I have experienced many highs and many lows. In a span of 20 minutes you can experience the happiness of a family welcoming a new pet friend into the family and then have to deal with the sadness and trauma of a family having to say goodbye to a trusted friend and family member of many years. These ups and downs can take a severe toll on members of the veterinary team, not only the vets, but everyone, the reception team, the nurses and the veterinary care assistants. 

As a profession the majority of us take every loss as if it is our own pet, but we sometimes struggle to acknowledge that we may need help also. 

Add into this long hours with over worked teams and a marked shortage of veterinarians and also registered nurses making recruitment challenging and we have an industry that is struggling to look after ourselves and out team. 

This is where VetLife comes in. They are the only charity that is purely there to help members of the veterinary industry who are struggling with their mental health. This support is free, confidential and anonymous and available 24/7, 365 days a year. 

During 2022 VetLife experienced a massive increase in applications for financial support of 236% and the health support service saw a 15.5% increase in referrals. The only way to fund the vital help given by VetLife is through charitable donations and I would like to do my small part. 

I have decided to Trek up Kilimanjaro. At 5895 meters it is the highest peak in Africa, and I feel a proper representation of the struggles many people in this industry face every year. Every donation made will go to Vetlife and will hopefully help someone who is in desperate need and hopefully keep a caring vet, nurse or receptionist in the industry to help us provide the services to every family who entrust us with their pet friends. 

If you feel like you currently need support yourself from Vetlife, their phone number is 0303 040 2551, or you can make contact through their website by email at www.vetlife.org.uk.