.Greetings!!

Thank-you so much for donating to one of my chosen charities for my coast to coast kayaking trip - Climbing Out, an incredibly wonderful charity that works with young people facing life changing injuries and illnesses. They run 5 day residential outdoor activity programmes that aim to help the young people taking part regain their confidence and self esteem, and to provide then with the opportunity to realise what they can still achieve, despite the challenges they face. 

This is a project that I am in awe of. I am sure, for those that have read my blog (www.paddlehigh5.wordpress.com) can see certain parallels that I can personally relate to.  For more information on the project check out www.climbingout.org.uk 

If someone told me this time last year that I am to be kayaking from Fort William to Inverness in 2015, I would have fallen off my chair laughing. I had been recently diagnosed and very ill in hospital with Multiple Sclerosis. I literally had no expectation for my life and could not form clearly in my mind what it would look like any more. What I did get from MS (AKA Malcolm) was an incredible wake up call and some small flames within me. These flames over time, turned into fire. Malcolm prompted me to work towards changing my career and rather than fantasise about adventure, take part in adventure. And here we are. Just over a year later on a mission to kayak 60 miles. 

Thank-you so much for your support and for your continued belief in me to carry out this quest and conquer it. Knowing you are there in the background will make any pain experienced during the process sweet. I already know this will be the hardest thing I have ever done both physically and mentally, but I know I can get through it, especially because I have you there cheering me on. 

Thank-you so much. 

Love, 

Sonja 

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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.