Everest Base Camp, really?? There are so many other things I could have chosen to do, bake 50 cakes, bathed in baked beans, shaved my head perhaps....but honestly and truly this challenge has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. My Dad bought me a book, The Himalayas by Michael Palin, and when I found out you could actually go there I was hooked, and have since watched and read anything and everything to do with this epic mountain vista and now I get to see and experience it for real.

I have self funded this trip, as this is my personal journey, however there are two charities very close to my heart that I thought I would take the opportunity to raise some much needed funds for.

MIND: 1 in 4 of us will at some point experience poor mental health, and although much is being done to recognise sign and symptoms and identify treatments, mental health first aid is vital for getting to those who are desperate and in need of urgent help. MIND runs an offshoot to their main charity, Mountains for the MIND, who organise fully supported walks and days out for those who struggle with depression, PTSD and general poor mental health. It is proven that getting outside aids recovery, just 5 minutes outside can improve your mood and 90 minutes can reduce a number of depressive thoughts. Your money will go towards helping fund these days out and keep the events free for those who need it most.

LDSAMRA: The Lake District is a wonderful place to visit, I know this because I live there! Many unwitting adventurers however will this year and in previous years (myself included), find themselves in trouble and require the assistance of the local Mountain Rescue Team. There are 12 teams in Cumbria and are made up entirely of volunteers, turning out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year and in all weathers, answering calls to those who are lost, injured or in poor health. Their help in the local and wider community shouldn't go without a mention either, answering the call to help those who needed rescuing during the recent floods. Your donations will help towards keeping their emergency vehicles running, replacement of kit and essential training days.

I will leave you with some wise words from the late great Alfred Wainwright:

"you were made to soar, to crash to earth, then rise and soar again"

Thank you for reading my story.

Jill