Hello!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my page - I really do trust you will be feeling generous and compelled to sponsor me!

The reality of the trek and it's significance didn't hit home until I recently visit Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and saw the site for the cardiac theatre that the funds we raise will go towards.  It isn't just a project that will benefit the UK.  A key part of the plans are to install the latest technology that will enable the surgery performed to be watched nationally and internationally as a training tool for other surgeons.  Equally surgeons from GOSH can support operations by dialing into other locations from their home base.  As a regular attendee of confracalls and having trained overseas colleagues using video confracalls the thought of a medical equivalent really appealed!

Visiting Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, in Peru, has long been on my travel to do list.  Only I had anticipated achieving this by the more familiar tourist method and taking the train.  However in a moment of sheer madness the idea of walking the Inca trail took root. My regular travelling companion to more unusual locations - Mum - felt this was one adventure best undertaken by the "youngsters", so as compensation for her missing out I thought it only fitting to use the trip to raise funds for one of her favorite charities.

Due to the trail's inherent challenges (it's very steep) and altitude (we head to 4200 m - approx 10,000ft) it's classed as "tough" and "demanding".  As I wasn't the fittest blonde in Birmingham I have been compelled into rigourous training.  This included employing the services of a wonderful Personal Trainer who's regular intonations around strengthening my "core stability" and cranking up my cardio are starting to have some impact. In addition I've dropped a dress size (and maybe another if I keep focused) and persuaded Dad, my walking guru and mountain sat nav, to haul me up a few training mountains in the Lake District.

We are allowed a generous 5 kilos kit on the trek.  FIVE!  As some standards have to be maintained I will be sneaking in mascara and lip gloss, although I may require counselling at leaving some other life essentials behind, like my straighteners.  I am under no illusion that baby wipes will become my new best friend, recycling underwear is the "norm" and I'm not contemplating the reality of a call of nature entails until we get there.  I am assured that although not fun, altitude sickness is an experience. Probably not too dissimilar to the feelings I get from the team missing sales target for a week......

Some of you may think I had enough on my plate with an impending house move and a demanding job.  However after listening to the motivators behind some of my other trekkers - where literally the lives of their children or family members have been saved - I was humbled.  The reality is I can live within a jumble of packing boxes for a few weeks and I know that the team I work with are fabulous and will hardly notice I've gone (cue for major contributions from said wonderful team as I've promised not to take the BlackBerry with me if the sponsorship is high enough!).  What is more important is getting the money in and the theatre off the page of a project plan and into construction.

If it helps in boosting your contribution I have been in pain regularly for the last three months and there's another three to come.  However the reality is I choose to put myself in that situation but the patients and their families don't have that luxury.  The sooner this unit is built and put into action the quicker we can start helping to improve the quality of lives for all of them.  I pray that your child (or that of someone you know) never needs the cardiac services of GOSH or someone who trained there...if however they do at that point I'd rather that the project had come to fruition and was available - as opposed to still on the "to do" pile in a planners office.

The minimum we contribute to the trip is £2900, but I'm paying for the actual cost of the trek (£1500) so the amount that I raise through the site goes directly to the charity.

I have said enough.....you know what you need to do.....time to get the plastic out and make a donation please!

Update at 13.9.08 - Due to the awesome generosity of everyone Iwho's sponsored me so far (THANK YOU!) I'm able to claim £500 £for£ contribution from my employer, leaving me just £75 short of my original target of £1500.  So I've decided to raise the bar and increase my target to £2,000!

Here's the small print but it's important - Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you

Carena xx