(For the avoidance of doubt, I am fully funding this trip, so all donations go directly to the charity).

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in East Africa and at 5,895 metres (19,371 ft) is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.  I've been to 18,500ft on Mt Kalapathar, above Everest Base Camp in the dim and distant past, but this will be my highest ascent so far. Other than the climb itself, the main issues are altitude sickness (it's a case of fingers crossed on this one) and temperatures that can go as low as -29 degrees C at night. 

I'll be climbing to the summit (last bit in the middle of the night, which I'm dreading!) with a group of 8 others, and all money we raise will help bereaved families on low incomes attend one of The Good Grief Projects Active Grief Weekends. These residential retreats are especially designed to support bereaved parents and siblings who have experienced the death of a child (of any age). 

I know from experience that it's really hard to know what is the 'right' thing to do or say to a friend who has to deal with the unimaginable grief of losing a child.  The Good Grief project aims to help them find new and creative ways of expressing their grief and to spend time with other parents who can relate to what they are going through. 

The Good Grief Project organizes 3 weekends annually, each one costing around £14,000 and although some parents can contribute to the cost (usually £250-£350 a head) the aim is to make them available to everyone, especially those on low incomes. 

For more info please visit https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk/active/