Dear Friends and Family,

My challenge this year is to climb Kilimanjaro and raise some money for Forgotten Feet, a fantastic charity that you may not have heard of.

I’m climbing with my husband Simon, we started training in January and despite the very wet weather we have had some great walks with friends and family. We have also discovered some routes locally that we haven't walked before. Training so far has been wet but finally the weather and my fitness seem to be improving and I’m excited for the trip to Africa and the climb.

We are climbing the Lemosho route up Kilimanjaro which has the highest summit success rate as it takes longer to allow you to acclimatise to the altitude: climbing high each day then sleeping low.

If we stay injury free and cope with the altitude we should be able to make it to the top. Though sleeping in a tent for a week with Simon snoring, no running hot and cold water or access to a shower and hairdryer might be a challenge for me.

Why forgotten feet?

As a young podiatrist working in clinics for the homeless in Manchester I was shocked at the severity of the foot problems I saw and their impact on those already struggling to cope with difficult lives. The stories of those I treated had a huge impact on me, and the way I viewed this vulnerable group. No one sets out to be homeless yet it can still happen to any one of us.

The ability to walk pain free and have warm, clean dry and comfortable feet are things most of us take for granted but achieving this and accessing services for vulnerable groups still remains difficult and this is where Forgotten Feet step in.

Your generous donations will ensure that the volunteer podiatrists that staff Forgotten Feet clinics can reach more individuals and provide the crucial care they desperately need.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I do plan to post pictures of the beautiful scenery from our training walks and climb so please come back for another look later.

Thank you for donating and helping me reach my target.

Kay