So, my best friend of over 30 years and I did think of having a party, or chilling out in a nice hotel for our 'big' birthdays, but frankly, reaching such an alarming age demands a need to prove we can STILL DO tough stuff, so we decided to climb the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of 5895m, camping (!) over 7 days to do so.

We trek right over both of our birthdays :-) at the start of this January, and have been busy doing practice treks in Morocco and The Lake District to attempt to test our kit, strengthen our calves and test out altitude sickness!

I am supporting our long standing VCCP agency charity, an incredible charity run by a small number of dedicated people we have come to know personally, and who have made truly significant changes to health in Zanzibar. Health Improvement Project Zanzibar - HIPZ - is a small charity that partners with the government in Zanzibar to strengthen the healthcare system. They have been running since 2007, and in that time have taken the hospitals from run-down buildings with no doctors, to refurbished facilities with 20 doctors across the two hospitals. Their work includes maternity care, paediatrics, mental health and running the general patient services.

They are small, efficient, sustainable and embedded in the local community, and with your help, I know they can do more.

It would mean so much to me, and spur us both on I am sure, if you could possibly donate what you can :-).

Thank you xxx