We all have our own personal metaphorical mountains to climb and over the past 3 years, I have climbed some mountains of my own. But none like Kilimanjaro is going to be.  I chose to take on this challenge because it was something that was totally out of my comfort zone that would challenge me like nothing I have done before. But this pales into insignificance when one considers the mountains these children climb daily just to survive.

This mountain is in my life now and I am curious to see what it is going to reveal to me - the mountain and I are going to become, sort of co-conspirators on my journey to becoming and learning more about myself. 

My training started 1 month ago and as the next 3 months approach before I leave on September 28th, it will become more intense and specific.  I can already see the importance of a "strong mind, strong body" approach.  When I first began I saw it as me vs the mountain, but on the quiet moments on my training walks, I can see how it is more me vs my own mind.  In Swahili they say Nguvu ya mwili, Nguvu ya akili which translated it strength of body, strength of mind.  

I am visualising myself standing at the top of the highest peak in Africa and the highest stand alone mountain in the world, but I know that on summit night, with an ascent of 4084ft with 49% less oxygen, I am going to be mentally and physically challenged to my limits.  Altitude sickness is something that one can't really prepare for as some people are inherently more susceptible than others.  I guess I won't know this until I am up there.  

This is already proving to be a hugely empowering experience and has given me real focus on my health, my fitness and the most important piece of all which is contribution to a cause greater than myself.

As a Trustee on the Board of Challenge Aid, I can say with certainty that every penny of the funds that we raise will be going directly to the children.  I have been to the slums in Kenya before when I opened a school in memory of my late husband Mike - known as the Mr Mike School of Hope and I was blown away by the joy, gratitude and aspirations of these young inspiring humans, who just want to learn, to be better and to improve their lives and the lives of their families by educating their way out of poverty.  

Please join me in contributing to make this happen.  I appreciate that we are all a little fatigued with charitable donations, so I thought I would show you what your money would buy.  Please take a look and donate what you would like to see happen in a child's life in some of the poorest slums in the world.

This is how your money will help over 4000 children on a day by day basis:

£10 pays for a child's education for a year

£200 creates a water point

£1000 sustains a School of Hope for a year

£1500 creates a library full of books

£6000 sets up an entire School of Hope