I thought I had written my last article for the Offaly Independent when I filed my final piece in September 2008, packed my bags and moved to Dublin…but I’m back! Come August 12 I am going to be at the bottom of the mother of the mountain that is Kilimanjaro – the world’s highest free standing mountain. August 19 will see me back on the flat again, but the eight days in between are going to physically push me probably more than I’ve ever been pushed before as I get to the summit. It’s not going to be a walk in the park up until then either, as I haul myself into the physical condition to do this and struggle too to fundraise for two charities. Starting this week, you get to hear all my training and fundraising moans – welcome aboard!
The idea of climbing Kilimanjaro isn’t a new one to the world at large, but it is to me. And for the record, it wasn’t actually my idea. My world for the past few years has been happily gym-free, with just a bit of walking thrown in to balance out the bit of overindulging I do when it comes to food and drink.
It all came about because of my inability to say no to a friend in need – let’s call her Emma Jane. Traditionally whenever Emma Jane split up with a boyfriend she’d suggest us learning some new skill to take her mind off her problems. I’d readily agree, she’d promptly get happy again and I’d find myself in the middle of some course or other by myself. Thanks to her I can sail (badly) and play the bodhrán.
When she suggested climbing Kilimanjaro late last year however she was nowhere near a break-up, so I decided saying yes would be safe enough. My workmate Michael had done the climb and said it was one of the best things he’s ever done. So I committed to it…and then Emma Jane got engaged and had to pull out so she could direct all her money towards her wedding!
At that stage I didn’t want to back out – I had a personal motivator in the form of Michael and had roped in my old boss Adam from Sydney as a replacement climbing companion – so now the line-up has slightly changed but the plan still stands!
That was about three months ago. Since then I’ve been mostly teaching Michael that I respond best to praise (and fair play to him, he’s learning!), choosing a company to do the climb with, giving up alcohol (just for Lent, but I’m debating giving it up again), hiking and running 10km for the first time in my life just last Sunday!
Oh, and one other thing - fundraising.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is going to take me eight days – THAT’S 8 DAYS! – and that’s not just because I’m crap at climbing mountains; it takes super fit people that long too. So it’s a big deal. So big a deal I originally thought people should pay me to do it. But then the guilt got the better of me so now I’ve decided to fundraise and get people to pay charity for me to do it instead.
I’ve chosen two charities – teenage mental health charity Headstrong and the Simon Community (with two thirds of the money raised for the Simon Community going to Midlands Simon). I’ll explain a little more why I chose these charities next week. Until then I’d be delighted if you became a fan of the lollipop versus Kilimanjaro Facebook page, checked out the blog or threw a bit of spare change to my chosen charities using credit or laser card via the links below.
Until next week,
Lollipop x
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