Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My life turned upside down in April 2016 when my beloved Mum was diagnosed with mixed Vascular Dementia/Alzheimer’s - she was 69 years young.  We knew something was wrong well before that, but it took over a year to get a proper diagnosis. She sadly passed away on 14^th February 2019, aged just 72.   

The experience rocked me and my family to the core, nothing prepares you for the challenges of having a loved one with the disease - and seeing their progressive decline.  Alzheimer’s is a pernicious, unforgiving illness and there is a long way to go with research – progress is being made but it is heavily underfunded.

I am also rapidly approaching the big 5-0 and with age the likelihood of knowing someone who has a significant, life-changing illness increases.  According to ONS, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the second most common cause of death in England and Wales in 2020 (COVID was first).

This is why I have chosen Alzheimer’s Research UK as my charity for the Trek.  I appreciate that we are in challenging times but I respectfully ask that you help in a small (or big!) way to help minimise (or ideally eliminate) the impact of this disease on future generations.

A bit about the trek

This has been third time lucky - COVID put pay to our original planned trek in September 2020, and 2021.

I wanted a real challenge, a new experience – something that would test me both physically and mentally. Which is why I’ve decided to join 9 others (on different fund-raising quests, from all around the UK) to scale Kilimanjaro in September 2022.  I'm also looking forward to a complete digital detox!

We are doing the Lemosho route over 8 days (6 days up, 2 days down) as this will give us the best change of managing the impact of altitude – Climb high, sleep low as they say.  The trek is paid for, flights are booked, equipment purchased and get fit campaign is well underway.

The trek is over 96km and Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and stands at 5,895 metres (19,341 feet).

I will update you on my journey along the way.

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