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My name is Chris and on 15th May I shall be taking part in the Grand Canyon Challenge.   For me this very special event will be in aid of Oakhaven Hospice.   My aim is to raise as much money as possible and I am asking you for your financial support by making a donation for this worthwhile cause.

I shall be trekking through the Grand Canyon which is one of the natural Wonders of the World.   Only a few hundred people are allowed to the bottom of the Canyon each year and permits are limited.   Therefore, I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to undertake this task especially as it will be my first time in the USA.

A simplified version of the trek is as follows - Day 1: Arrive at Sedona, Arizona and travel to Oak Creek Canyon. Reach Mogollon Rim (7,000 ft. elevation).  Day 2: Decend the south rim to Plateau Point via Indian Gardens.  Day 3: Travel to Hualapai Hilltop (5,4000 ft.) and trek on demanding trails to a dry streambed. Then continue on paths past 80 ft. Navajo & 100 ft. Havasu Falls.   Day 4: Trek deeper into Canyon down to Mooney Falls and continue to Beaver Falls.   Day 5: A trek in Carbonate Canyon.   Day 6: Return via the path we took for the decent until we reach the rim. (This will be the most challenging day of all).   All together we shall be trekking some 50 very challenging miles.

As a grandmother (60+more) this will be a challenge of a lifetime especially as I am a diabetic.   However I am training very hard and completed a five hour hike round the New Forest on Good Friday.  That was after I had just got back in the early hours from a week in Jersey on a Line Dancing Trip.   I plan to up my training and get my bike out for a spin and to also get some walking in on the Dorset coast.

This cause is very important to me as my husband Geoff passed away last year from pancreatic cancer.   I now want to commemorate Geoff's life by participating in this event.   Oakhaven Hospice have been a great support to me and all my family and continue to do so.   Also, two of my friends passed away last year and they were also supported by Oakhaven Hospice.

Can you help by donating something (every £ counts)?   You can find out more about Oakhaven Hospice by visiting their website at www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk.   It is an independent hospice covering The New Forest & Waterside area and costs circa £2.5M to run every year for which they receive just 18% NHS funding.

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.

So please help if you can and don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box (personal sponsors only) - every penny counts.

                     PLEASE WISH ME LUCK WITH MY ENDEAVOUR