Hello, and thanks for visiting my fundraising page. First, here's the official bit: Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Relief will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me now!

Now here's my bit: I'm not quite sure what I've let myself in for, especially as i don't know the fixtures for next season so i don't know how many Arsenal games I'm going to miss - and i don't think they'll have Sky TV at the summit...

I am taking on the challenge of hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Standing at 5,896m (or 19,344ft), Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world.  Our 6-day trek will start at the base of this huge dormant volcano, taking us through jungle, mountain and ice, and exposing us to warm daytime temperatures of up to 30°C and cold nights of around -15°C!  The trek will also take us above 18,000 feet so we will be at risk from altitude sickness, with only 50% of oxygen in the air at the summit (compared to what we have at sea level).

I genuinely appreciate your support. Please help me raise as much as possible for this very worthwhile cause.

Cheers,Rob

24th August Update: First, thanks again to everyone who has sponsored me. Some people have been asking if I'm still doing the challenge after some injury problems this year. I have every intention of completing the trek. Hopefully i'll have an injury-free few months before the event starts so i can get some training in.

All the money you donate will directly benefit Macmillan as i am paying the Expedition costs myself.

25th September - many thanks to everyone who has taken on my Smarties Challenge. This is an easy way to donate as you can pop coins into your Smarties tube gradually so you don't even notice the money going. 1 tube of £1 coins makes approx £27. For more details (and your free Smarties) email me at rob.marsden@magdalene.co.uk

05th January 2007 - The trek is about 2 weeks away and I'm raring to go...ish! There is still time to raise enough to reach my next target of £2,900. I (and Macmillan) really appreciate your generosity.

18th January 2007 - There I was, raring to go and then...I put me back out. Nice timing, 3 days before the flight. Luckily it seems to be easing up and after some expert work from Osteopath Ben at Total Health Care Clinic in Peterborough I think I might just make it (at least to Peterborough train station anyway). So the big day is tomorrow and if I get back in one piece I will be sure to let you all know how it went. Cheers!

9th Feb 2007 - I made it back in one piece. Got to 5500m before succumbing to what I now realise was altitude sickness. It's been eating away at me ever since so I will be back one day to finish the job. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who sponsored me and for all the messages of support, it was much appreciated. Between us we have raised a few quid for a good cause, which is the most important thing.

This site will continue to take donations until around the end of March so please spread the word to anybody who might like to donate.

If you need more proof that I went to Kili there is an online album here: http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4892016

and another one here:

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/4971734