**Just to let you know that I made it to the summit on the 9th July, look forward to telling you all about it on my return**

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

For many years I have been involved with Bath rugby and last year I was asked by a friend whether I would support Bath Rugby player David Barnes in raising money in his testimonial year in a sponsored walk to climb Kilimanjaro on the 2^nd June 2011.  In a weak moment I agreed and the friend quickly e-mailed me quoting “remember, you can’t force the toothpaste back in the tube once you have squirted it out, and you have squirted!!”

 

The prime charities are Help for Heroes, RFU Injured Players Foundation, RPA Benevolent Fund under the umbrella of www.axawealthclimb.co.uk. I am delighted to personally contribute and support this event for these worthy causes.

 

Having agreed to embark upon this adventure I felt that it was appropriate to try and achieve a personal goal. In the early part of 2011, I celebrated a significant birthday which brought me fairly close to pensionable age.  During my life I have been lucky enough to be blessed with good health whereas many others have been less fortunate.  In 2010 four people who were significant within my life had lost their lives to cancer. I therefore have decided to raise money in memory of these four people for Cancer Research under the title “ Too young to die”. 

 

Kirsty Turner nee Rogers worked for E.P. Mallory for six years, married her partner on Monday 6^th September 2010 and lost her battle for life on Friday, 10^th September at the tender age of 31.

 

Josephine Mallory, wife of the Chairman Patrick Mallory, reached a time in her life when she was enjoying her family and grandchildren but sadly died in her mid sixties in May 2010.

 

Alan Scofield, brother of my wife, Wendy, emigrated to Canada over forty years ago and in midst of his retirement amongst his close knit family who lived around him.  He was a vibrant seventy year old whose life was cut short.

 

Kevin Coleman, a fellow jeweller and friend for more than twenty years was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, was given six months to live but fought for his love of life for nine years before dying in October 2010 in his early sixties.

 

Kilimanjaro stands 19,340 feet.  From what I understand this is by no means a “walk in the park” and the barrier to achieving the goal of reaching the summit is altitude sickness which is difficult to predict.  There are also significant temperature variations ranging from + 30c to minus - 20c to contend with, although the whole adventure is a challenge for one’s body. I do appreciate that many people already donate to cancer causes but if you so wish you may contribute by way of a cheque made payable to Cancer Research or online to www.justgiving.com/robert-vander-woerd. Alternatively if you feel inclined and you want to make it incentive lead, I am very happy to accept a contribution on a “footage” basis!