It feels great to be able to start planning and undertaking challenges now that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be behind us. It gives me the opportunity to start on the series of challenges I set myself and to start fundraising for a fantastic group of charities.
First up is to take on my long held desire to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on Africa, it makes up one of the the seven summits and is also the highest free standing mountain, above sea level, in the World. It has inspired countless expeditions, films, novels and pieces of art and is part of the fabric of East African culture. The Maasai call it’s snow covered, 19340 foot high, western summit ‘Ngaje Ngai’: the House of God.
I’ve set myself a target of £2500, which I hope to exceed, which will go to help the work of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with their ongoing efforts to rescue and rehabilitate Elephants and Rhino in East Africa. As with all the challenges I undertake I cover the entire cost of the trip myself and every single penny raised goes to the charity.
I have supported the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust since I had the privilege of visiting their orphanage in Nairobi in 2009. Since then, as several friends and a host of nieces and nephews can attest, I have “adopted” dozens of orphan elephants and I have been very fortunate to have been able to visit them in person when attending the Safari 7s in Kenya. I also visited the orphanage in 2014 when I was on honeymoon so I am delighted that, finally after years of dropping me off and picking me up from airports, my fabulous supportive wife is going to be coming with me on this particular challenge.
I will endeavour to keep you updated with how the preparation and fundraising is going before the challenge in July and August 2024 but to get things started please follow this blog and, if you can, donate to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust here
If you would like to join the challenge please follow me and then DM via this site
Deano's World 