Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

[p]On the 8th January 2020 Myself and good friends Ed Bignell and Josh James will be travelling to Tanzania to climb the highest free standing mountain in the world and the highest peak in Africa- Mount Kilimanjaro.[/p][p]The trek itself will take a total of 8 days and will involve camping and trekking through desert, thick scrubland, moorland, tropical rainforest and arctic ice caps. The summit of Kilimanjaro is over 19,000 feet above sea level, only 60% of trekkers make it to the summit and over 70% of people that attempt the climb experience acute mountain sickness.[/p][p]The three of us have different levels of experience of climbing and trekking varying from absolutely none to very little. This trek will be the most challenging and difficult event each of us have faced in our lives both mentally and physically but we are all determined to make it to the summit.[/p][p]The initial catalyst for this expedition was when Ed was diagnosed with an autoimmune form of Arthritis in early 2017 - a personal battle which he faces every day. In a bid to not let the disease define him and what he can and can’t do, he set out to challenge himself physically, and thus birthed the concept of summiting Kilimanjaro.[/p][p]Although all three of us have wanted to take on this challenge for some time, I personally was given the motivation to actually sign up for this over the past two years following the death of my dad Nick Fayers in December 2017. In the year following my father’s death a huge fundraising effort was undertaken by friends, family and colleagues in his memory through the Nick Fayers AMEND Fund.[/p][p]The Nick Fayers AMEND Fund raised £100,000 for AMEND UK a small charity dedicated to supporting patients and family members with the MEN1 disease- a rare genetic condition which sadly lead to my dad’s death. These fundraising efforts have inspired me to take on this challenge and push myself not only to reach the summit in memory of my dad but also to raise more funds for this incredible charity.[/p][p]Josh and Ed have both kindly agreed to dedicate the funds raised from this page and the subsequent sponsorship to AMEND UK. We have all paid for this trek upfront and therefore any funds raised will go directly to the charity and will make a huge difference to families suffering from MEN1 in the same way my family has done and continues to, making this challenge hugely personal.[/p][p]The three of us have begun our journey of preparation and training for this trek which is now in less than 6 months time. Any donation large or small will be so hugely appreciated and will provide that extra bit of motivation when we are trekking up to the summit in the dark in deep snow and ice and -20 degrees whilst vomiting from altitude sickness in January![/p][p] [/p][p]Thanks for all the support,[/p][p] [/p][p]Will, Ed and Josh.[/p][p] [/p][p][br][/p][p][br][/p][p] [/p]