My friend Debbie shared the details of the Dalai Llama India Trek on FaceBook and it totally resonated with me - I said to my daughter Caitlin – ‘I’d love to do that’ - she said ‘Why don’t you?’ and pushed me - I’m in a rut and this seemed like the perfect lift out. So, in October next year, I will be taking on the Dalai Lama Challenge, trekking up to 3,500m in the foothills of the Himalayas. 

In the meantime I will be raising loads of money for St Barnabas House, a truly excellent hospice in Sussex. Debbie is brilliantly supported by the wonderful people there, through their day hospice service.

In Debbie’s words….

‘I'm just so thrilled and impressed that you're actually going to do this!

It'll be an amazing experience I bet!  To trek up to the Himalayas will be awesome! I'm really chuffed that you will be raising funds for St Barnabas because I know from personal experience just what a wonderful hospice it is. Hospices help you to live your life fully and not just give up and die.

The staff are kind, caring, supportive and dedicated to making end of life experience as positive as it can be. I'm fortunate that at the minute my cancer appears to be stable, but it is tough at times knowing that it won't always be like this and everyone at St Barnabas has been truly ace! Every day they offer a day hospice service for people who have a terminal illness.  It's a safe place to share thoughts, fears & experiences with a peer group that understands. It's ok to cry, laugh and hold hands, to express yourself, to discuss treatment and how your illness might be affecting those around you.   I always thought that hospices were government funded but they're not. Most rely on volunteers and are charity funded. 

Truly amazing!  Thank you Fiona I'll be with you in spirit and am well jell!’

This challenge is specifically to raise money to enable St Barnabas House to extend the service they offer.  As well as cancer patients they want to be able to support people with more complex clinical needs including dementia, heart disease, liver disease and kidney failure.

The minimum sponsorship is £2,800 - I am aiming to raise £5000 for St Barnabas and will ensure that I cover all of my own expenses on the trip.  As well as a JustGiving page, I will be organising practice walking trips, restaurants will be popping up in my kitchen, there will be a ‘Tea and Tarts’ garden party, varieties of bobble hats, car boot sales and who knows what else.  Please join in, donate and help me to support St Barnabas.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.