(Note: In association with my fundraising for this climb, a Malvern Hills Ultra (54miles) was organised for May 1st 2010 - an amazing £2708.50 was raised! I have altered the target on this page which accounts for the money raised on the seperate page for the MHU)

Hello Everyone!!

I have completely lost my marbles and in October 2010 I will be taking part in the Kilimanjaro Summit Challenge in order to raise money for St Richard's Hospice Foundation which is based in Worcestershire.  There is nothing like a stroll to get the old lungs working! Well OK it is slightly more than a stroll!!

St Richard's Hospice provide free specialist palliative care for patients living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,000 patients and family members in Worcestershire. Patients are cared for in Day Hospice, the In-patient Unit or in their own homes by a specialist team including nurses, doctors, social worker, family therapist, counsellors, physiotherapist, occupational therapists and Citizens Advice Bureau worker as well as many trained volunteers. In the In-patient Unit specialist staff are on hand 24 hours a day to manage patients' symptoms and where, if they so choose, patients may spend the last few days of life in comfort and dignity. St Richard's is grateful for all donations towards the £4.8m they need to raise this year to continue their work.

To say this place has had an effect on me would be an understatement, the staff are wonderful and really do care for the patients they look after. The patients are an inspiration, many remaining optimistic and smiling even at a most difficult time of their lives (many far too soon!). The experience has completely changed my view of hospices, I was expecting, dark, scary and sad places, when in fact, St Richard's is calm, peaceful, colourful, cheerful and comfortable.

Just a little bit of info about the challenge I shall be facing..Mt Kilimanjaro!

Kilimanjaro, nicknamed “The Roof of Africa”, is the highest mountain on the continent and a magnet for trekkers the world over. We will be following the beautiful Machame Route, approaching Kilimanjaro from the south, and through rainforest, moorland and scree, we climb to its snowcapped summit at 5896m (perhaps I should say my goodbyes now!) for simply breathtaking views. This is a tough but spectacularly rewarding challenge.

If you would like to find out more about this wonderful charity, please visit their website...

http://www.strichards.org.uk/ - In 2009, they celebrated 25years of care!

Action Challenge states that in order to fulfil this exciting and rewarding challenge, I need to raise a minimum sponsorship of £3400 (£1700 for the trip itself and £1700 for the hospice):-

I have raised the £1700 required for the trip costs through car boots and ebay sales which I have included in the total fundraising - therefore all money donated through sponsorships and fundraising events will go directly to the charity (St Richard's Hospice). I would love the charity to recieve £3400 though, as they really deserve it, so have set the total target (two pages) at £5100 (including the £1700 I have saved for the trip itself and the £2708.50 raised at the MHU)

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: St Richard's Hospice Foundation 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.

So please sponsor me! Thanks for visiting my fundraising page!