Hi!

After my Arctic trip last year, I have been looking for my next challenge.  My inspiration for this has come from a friend of mine who has made many trips to Nepal and speaks so excitedly of it that I feel I just have to go and see what she is going on about!  Thank you Hazel!! Because of you,  I've chosen to trek to Everest Base Camp starting on 1 February 2012 and finishing on 21st February 2012.

I'm doing the trek for my own challenge but also in memory of my dad, Leonard, who died of leukaemia when I was 16.  He had a wonder of the universe and the natural world and was captivated by Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Everest, the book of which I clearly remember being on our shelves at home as I grew up. Sadly, my dad's health made it impossible for him to ever think of seeing Everest for himself, so I am doing it with him uppermost in my mind. When I reach Base Camp I hope I will be able to feel his spirit beside me as I look towards Everest. 

So because of all this, I have decided to do the trek in aid of the charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (LLR).

I'm going to enjoy this trek but I don't expect it to be a 'walk in the park', I shall meet all kinds of new difficulties e.g. chaotic Kathmandu, the nerve wracking flight to Lukla (the most dangerous airport in the world apparently, and I don't like flying - help!!), high suspension bridges, the cold, the altitude (5,545m at our highest point), little internet and phone contact ... yaks, yaks, and more yaks.. and a group of people who are unknown to me right now!  Mind you, with no shower and the minimum of washing we will soon know each other as much by smell as by sight! There will be about 16 of us altogether but I am fundraising for (LLR) privately through this page.

My preparation has included increasing my running, taking up cycling again, swimming, plus going into the Hajjar mountains here in the UAE for a bit of climbing and scrambling with my husband, Ian!  There's a photo of me on the left having a break during one of our treks, taken recently.Have also included a few others in the gallery below and will try to add to these. The preparation has been fun; am still getting all the last minute bits and pieces together, but I'm nearly there now. 

Every year, there are about 30,000 new diagnoses of blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  These cancers are no discriminators of age, they affect newborns, to young people, to the elderly.  Of course, I support the LLR because of my dad, but also because these diseases are so wide ranging in their devastating impact.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

We only have one life.  Fortunately, I'm healthy and trying to live mine to the full. Others aren't as lucky.   So in my own small way, I am trying to do some good for them at the same time.  By supporting me, you are supporting the LLR, a truly great cause.

So please dig deep and donate now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!