Story
Final Update:
As you can all see from the new pic; we did it- YAY ;)))))))
I swear that had I have failed to summit I would have run off into the jungle and never come back......failing was just never an option!
The whole experience was incredible in so many ways. The list is endless but just to give you an idea of what kinds of things blew us away, it would include the truely breath taking scenery where each day you seem to pass into another realm or arrive on a different planet, the meeting of wonderful like-minded people all pushing their own boundries for all sorts of heartwarming causes, the time to reflect internally and face your thoughts, the actual summit night where you endure all kinds of mental and physical torture (feeling violently sick and your skull feeing like it is going to explode, whilst tripping and falling in the pitch black, landing on your knees and gasping for oxygen, just willing yourself to carry on for another 7 hours, knowing that each step takes you higher in altitude and is going to make all the pain much worse!) and have to dig way beyond any depths that you had ever imagined that you possessed, the raw emotion of spreading mums ashes and releasing her spirit from the top of the worlds highest free-standing mountain, and knowing that by doing all this, we have raised money for such a wonderful charity that will use this money to help others in their moment of great need. Truely amazing! xxxxxxxxxxx
All there is left to say is THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts- your support has meant the world to us xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May Update:
So then........ me & dad have now proudly added Ben Nevis (highest mountain in Scotland) and Scarfel Pike (highest mountain in England) to our list of summit conquers- yeeeeeeehaaaaaaa we are rocking!!!! We have done Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scarfel ALL under treacherous conditions including arctic waaaaaaaay below zero temperatures, thrashing, lashing it down rain, ridiculous gale force winds and 4ft of snow soooooo just maybe, Kili might feel like a walk in the park he he he he he!!!!!! No matter what, we will absolutely NOT give up, no matter how it might hurt! The ONLY thing that will get in the way of us getting to that flipping summit is if we are picked up and run down the mountain (against our will!), in the case of getting altitude pulmonary edema. On that you have my word! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
UPDATE: we just got back from our official Kilimanjaro training weekend in Snowdonia- it was very, very wet and windy and was pretty darn tough at times BUT we thankfully made it! xxxxxx Only 8 weeks to go- yikes!!!!!!!!!
Why we are doing this:
For 12 months San (mum) fought terminal cancer fearlessly, defiantly, positively and with characteristic humour. However, on 4th September, at the too, too young age of 59, she was so sadly taken from us. She faced this illness with the same courage & sense of humour as she faced the world and with the same absolute belief in the power of her mind and of positive thinking. Even this battle she did not lose - she just came in, bare-knuckle & too close to the end of the fight.
Sandra’s tragic passing away, on the day of the opening of LondonEdge, last September, unleashed a tidal wave of heartbreak, personally affecting so many people all around the World. It has been overwhelming to learn of how Sandra touched so many different people and in so many positive and amazing ways.
Although without her, Sandra's family and close friends have been left feeling empty and bereft, we have also been incredibly privileged to have shared her life. And now we are inspired by her and have been galvanised with a desire to follow her example and achieve something for others that will make Sandra proud!
We (Geoff and Kelin), Sandra's husband and daughter, have chosen to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, North Africa, for San and for LOROS.
LOROS was such a comfort and reassurance to Sandra in her last days, and while there she asked us to help and donate to this unique institution for the benefit of other poor souls.
To ensure that LOROS, (www.LOROS.com) is able to continue to care so beautifully for other people in such need as San, we would like to support them by raising funds which they rely upon to stay active.
For our project, we will be leaving the comfort of the UK on the 7th July 2011 to embark upon our monumental and hugely challenging journey to the very peak of Kilimanjaro, THE WORLD’S highest free standing mountain!
We are comitted to raising a MINIMUM of £7,000 for LOROS, so please help us to achieve this and sponsor us.
Thank you for all your kindness and support.
Lots of love,
Kelin & Geoff, (and San) xxxxxxxxx
Note on Gift Aid: