Thank you for visiting my page for Enham’s extraordinary challenge.

Our major awareness and fund-raising project this year is in July, when we shall take the first UK multi-ability team to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

In July 2008, 18 intrepid climbers will set off on what is no ordinary expedition.

• The purpose is to demonstrate that anyone can achieve incredible things if they work together and support one another, regardless of their limitations. 

• They go as nine pairs of disabled and non-disabled people on the “buddy” system supporting each other on the climb: either both make it to the top, or neither does; 

• They will be supported and accompanied by a world class film crew, and the composer of many of the big and small screens’ greatest theme tunes of the past decade – with the theme tune for our movie being composed en route!

“By enabling disabled people to participate as full equals, right at the heart of this adventure, Enham will help to change the way people think about disabled people.  It will also change how the disabled people who participate think about themselves.  They will have tales to tell about their exploits, their confidence will grow and they will take greater control of their own lives and increase their independence and autonomy.” [Sir Bert Massie CBE, Former Chair of the Disability Rights Commission]

Each participant has to raise £5,000 to qualify for the trip.  For many of our team, including several disabled participants who are not financially independent, this is as much of a challenge as the climb itself. 

I didn’t apply for selection, and wouldn’t have made the cut: but I have committed £5,000 to support these participants.  I invite you to join me in enabling them to change their lives – and, as Bert Massie suggests, to inspire others.

You can now follow their inspiring ascent of Mount kilimanjaro at:

www.themountainwithin.com

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=571842227#/group.php?gid=32602160016&ref=mf

http://www.youtube.com/user/themountainwithin

You can also find the participants’ stories at http://www.enham.org.uk/pages/the_enham_kilimanjaro_challenge.html  Look at some of them and decide whom you would like to support: they all have their own donations pages which can be found by clicking the Page Tags  "Enham" link below. Please make clear that you are giving at my invitation.  Whatever you decide …  PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY  and thank you so much for doing so.

Rod Chamberlain