Hey Listen up please,

I will be enduring a 6 day trek up the Alps of Transylvania to fundraise for childline and help protect children across our nation, who may have no one they can turn to or trust, when in troubled times.

-- Below my story is what the climb up Transylvania entails --

I remember being a child myself (some may say I still am, but I just roll my eyes 🙄) and saying to my 👩 mum "I'm gonna call Childline and tell them you're being mean to me" when she grounded me to my room or denied me of my dessert 🍨 because I hadn't eaten my greens🥦, only to have her hand the phone to me, calling my bluff knowing that I'd never do it.

That was my limited and naive understanding of what Childline was about. The troubling thing is I had a loving family and circle around me that meant I was protected and had trust in them to be able to talk about anything unlike a huge majority of other children did/do. 

Looking back and knowing what I know now, being a volunteer for the NSPCC coming up to 2 years, makes me feel guilty that through my immaturity I threw about childline comments as I did to my mum and dad. Because in reality there were thousands of kids who didn't have my circle of family and friends who they couldn't trust, were exploited, bullied and at times abused.

Imagine a child being abused. They can't tell their friends through fear of how it would be received or exposing themselves to some form of ridicule. No family they can trust or that will believe what they say and in some cases, it's their family that are administering the abuse, either mentally, physically or both. This child is crying inside and has no one they feel they can turn to. But there is a discreet service called 'childline', who can guide or even step in, to make sure they are protected and who can take the necessary trained steps to put a stop to a lifetime of abuse.

Even the slightest exposure to a form of abuse or bullying can have catastrophic repercussions for someone's life and in most cases can determine their life in later years. Even in the mildest of cases, an example consequence could mean mental effects that strip them of any self-confidence to do anything or to excel in later life.

☎ Childline in most cases is the only lifeline for a child 👫..!

Now with all the specialised training, running costs etc. It costs £4 for every call answered and without fundraising, this would just not exist which makes you think just how important any fundraising for a good cause is.

Childline's line of support doesn't just cover abuse. They help with so much more:

• You and your body
• Feelings
• Friends, relationships & sex
• School, college education & work

If you don't wish to donate, that is absolutely fine and I just thank you for reading the above and taking an interest in what I'm doing. Wish me luck that I don't get bitten by a vampire 😲🧛‍♀️

What the trek entails

We will start the traverse up the challenging terrain of the Transylvanian Alps on the 2nd July 2019. Along the way, we will pass the famous 'Count Dracula's eerie castle' and ascend to heights over 2,400 metres.

Each day will consist of approximately 7-8 hours, ascending the Alps, passing small villages and camping out in the great outdoors.

I and the rest of the team have already started to prepare our fitness levels to take on this challenge and we hope to raise as much as we possibly can for Childline.

😘