Thank you.....

August was a long time ago. What a journey was started by that little pop up advert in my inbox.  "Climb Kilimanjaro"...go on..you know you want to!!  Well I do want to, and in less than 48hours from now I will begin the final journey towards that goal.

On the way, I have been helped in so many ways by first family, and friends...by colleagues, and ex colleagues and by the generous spirit that is alive all around us, waiting to be tapped into.  Fundraising of any sort is a balance...how often can I ask? 

How much should I ask for?   Well, I needn't have worried!!

I was determined that the full cost of this adventure would be paid, without penalty or cost to my charity, or to the many people who have so kindly dipped into their pockets and who have made that decision to hand over their gift....and it is a gift.   I am delighted to confirm that 100% of the costs to take part in this adventure have been paid, not in personal donations, but by myself, or with the help of some corporate donations from friends at the Royal Mail, who through a matched funding scheme donated £200, and from local businesses Heavyweight Air Express, and Logistics solution provider Catalyst Logistics.

For the children, and young adults in Northamptonshire who are helped by the work of my chosen charity, Autism Concern...each £ that you have donated represents a chance.  A chance to be themselves, to enjoy security, support, and understanding in a world where chaos and conflict, confusion, and misunderstanding are common.  Together, you have helped to raise over £4000 in personal donations, or gifts.  Thank you!!

Children with autism require patience...patience, and understanding, a bit like Kilimanjaro... to borrow a quote from William Shakespeare "to climb steep hills, requires a slow pace at first" 

Six months preparation, and training ends tomorrow... a final rush round, maybe the odd moment of panic, but the bag is now packed, and I'm ready.

For Kilimanjaro, and for me, the wait is over!  On Friday, after a long flight we will greet each other, and in the early hours of February 25th I hope she will allow me to  stand on Africa's highest point, and to say a small thank you for her kindness, and a huge thank you for yours!!

This blog is over....I hope that you have enjoyed sharing the first part of my journey. A journey which has allowed me to enjoy some of the UK's most wonderful countryside,  where I have stood atop of Wales' highest mountain, in all weathers, 3 times.  I have enjoyed the Malverns, more local to me, but nonetheless just as beautiful, and a journey where I was smiled upon at Ben Nevis, the UK's highest point, on an October afternoon, which thought it was July, and high summer.

A journey that has introduced me to some inspirational new friends, and where our community has come together to enjoy great evenings of fun, and entertainment to help with my fundraising.  Where fate has allowed me to take on this trip with one of those new friends. 

Coincedence has thrown a curve ball, and we have caught it.  In a village of our size, who would have thought that two hithertoo strangers would be choosing the same goal....and how wonderful fate is that should allow us to enjoy it together? 

When I return, I will no doubt have tales to tell....but Kilimanjaro will no longer be waiting....

Thank you.  Thank you for your kind thoughts...for the encouragement, and compliments you have paid.  Thank you for the support you have offered, and for the donations you have made.

Graham :-) x

 

Kickstart to Kilimanjaro....

And so on Saturday 5th February, we had the most fantastic evening, with friends and family at our local Social Club. 

Sam has made a huge impression on many people in our village, but none more so that Iain Osborne who helped us by arranging a charity event like no other. Local Northamptonshire band, Kickstart gave up an evening to come along and entertain us with many old favourites from my teens.

Kids moved between sliding on the dance floor, to sliding a ball up the virtual ten-pin alley on an array of Wii games that Iain had set up to keep them entertained. Every attempt to help out, was answered with a cheery, "nope, don't worry, I have everything under control" and he certainly did.

The last big fundraiser before I go on my journey up Kilimanjaro was a huge success, with £561 raised for Autism Concern. The club gave us the hall for free, the band, who were fabulous, not only kept us well entertained for free, but also donated £100 towards my fundraising.

Every now and then the need for clever comment, humour, and witty innuendo is not required in a blog. This time, all I have to say is a huge thank you to everyone who came and enjoyed the evening, to the kids who helped with the raffle draw, and to the many volunteers who jumped in to sell raffle tickets, work the door, or just got on the dance floor and made the evening so memorable.

Most of all... with just 10 more sleeps until I leave for Kilimanjaro, I want to thank Iain.... with friends like these, you can climb mountains they say? We'll see.... Kilimanjaro Waits......

www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Boys Toys....it's just 14 more days!!

There are those suspicious folk out there who would have you believe that this whole Kilimanjaro expedition is an extravegent excuse to treat myself to a few gadgets...well...they're wrong, of course...but I have enjoyed hunting down a few small treats for myself. 

And there are so many to choose from, wow if Mr Lottery was kinder to me there is a host of little helpers out there...little being the most important thing to consider here...we have a maximum allowance of just 15kgs on the mountain so travelling light is most definitely the order of the day!!  (Of course, I can't imagine anyone wanting to carry anything more than that up 19,340 ft in minus 20 degrees). 

So, let me introduce you to my entertainment, some old, some new that I will have with me on this trip....

First up, we have my new watch...the Timex Expedition...it actually tells the time too..and unlike my other gadgets this little fella is actually, not very little...but hey, it will be on my wrist, and I figure that doesn't count as luggage.   I'm now perfectly able to tell the time at heights up to 27,000ft...or of course if the worst happens and I tumble into the volcano, then I'm still good at -330ft in a pool of water, in the DARK!!   I've always been a bit of a watch freak,  and I'm really pleased with this housebrick of a watch, and it's been a while since I had a good one on my wrist. 

Next up I have this little beauty.  

Mr Multi-functionality....so I will know exactly where we are in our journey towards the Uhuru peak.   Want to know how high up you are, in feet, or meters....your direction of travel, and the temperature your doing it in?  This is your baby....and all for just a few pennies. 

Actually, I guess there is an argument that says if you look at the machine and discover that you're heading South, when you should be heading North, and you have still got 4,800 feet to go...oh, and by the way, it's minus 20 outside??  It may not be good news...but....I like to be informed, so I'm delighted with this little gadget.

Of course, I will be taking my phone....there may be a signal that will allow the odd update on the way?  I'll have my iPod to keep me entertained when talking is impossible without collapsing from exhaustion.  Flip it onto shuffle, and enjoy almost 12 days of continuous music, with just the occasional interlude when I can teach myself Italian.....always handy in a foreign country to know a foreign language.....didn't the Italians occupy Kenya once upon a time?

and finally, I have my most treasured gadget of them all...a lifesaver of enormous proportions, this little baby is the key to my sanity I feel....and it's good for the environment.  I can't afford them on the house roof, but whilst we're living in tents, I have the power to maintain the link to my music.  Who would have thought, so much power out of just 6 inches??  (Thought I would put a line in for all you fans of a good double entendre) 

All I need now is a few moments in the sun each day....but hey, it is Africa.  They have loads of it don't they??

It's just 14 days til the off...excited?  Just a little!!

I hope that you have enjoyed my preparation over the last few months, and if you've enjoyed my blog, then a little comment of encouragement would be fantastic....if you've LOVED my blog, then of course you can also leave a small donation in my fund raising pot.  www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

And, if you've been checking every day to see if I've put another update on, and you simply look forward to reading this stuff more than breakfast, dinner & tea...then please leave an enormous donation!!

checking out for tonight now.... thanks everyone.... Kilimanjaro waits....

New Ground, New Friends...

Had a great day today, in a part of the country which I have surely missed out on too long.  Towcester Tea and Kilimanjaro veteran Tony invited me to join him and his friends on their regular ramble for just over 10 miles around the Derbyshire Peak District.

So an early start to make some soup for my journey, before at 07:30 we set off up the motorway to Youlgreave, a small but ancient village in Derbyshire that sits upon a Limestone shelf, between two valleys, Bradford Dale, and Lathkill Dale.

Robin Hood's Stride

It was towards the Bradford Dale that we headed, 12 regular friends, and me making up a baker's dozen.  Leading the group, Tony's friend Jeremy who regularly gathers this group of friends together for a monthly hike around a variety of the UK's finest walking areas.  And so it was today...we headed off down the line of the River Bradford, over Grafton Moor, and along the Limestone Way to Robin Hood's stride, (an ancient pile of rocks,with two "turrets" that Robin is reported to have leaped between...doubtful, I would say), before heading back up to Youlgreave, for a well earned rest, a coffee, and some bakewell tart (in my case) or carrot cake at the Farmyard Inn.

Ideal preparation for Kilimanjaro, (I hope) we hiked for about 5 hours, over many hills, and through some fabulous valleys, and if there was ever an argument for walking to keep fit, then a chat along the way with long striding Rob (81 & 4th from the right, above) surely confirmed it.   I've not walked like this for over 20 years he said...but striding on up hills like a youngster he was great company, and an incredibly fit chap.... (I wonder, actually if he hasn't discovered a cocoon in his garden) 

Just a few small hills to get you in the mood, and blow away a few cobwebs, but this wasn't a stroll in park, and now typing this I'm quite happy to rest my feet.  Regrettably the bus was ages away, so with about 3 miles left on our journey, there was no choice but to walk.... I wonder if they have a stop at the Stella Point? 

It was a great day out, with a great new group of friends. With just 19 days to go before I head off for Tanzania, this was probably the last chance I will have to don the boots, and stretch my legs, so it was wonderful to have shared it with such great company.

19 Days... wow!!  It feels almost like yesterday I started my blog in August.

In that time, I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing walks, around Snowdonia, Ben Nevis, the Malverns, and around Northamptonshire, local to me. Today I extended that list to include the Derbyshire Peaks.  For sure, when I return, there are many more hills to climb, just maybe not any as high.... Kilimanjaro waits... impatiently!!

Please sponsor me for this fabulous charity that does so much for children and young adults with autism in our community.  www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining.....

Been a strange, but amazingly rewarding 24 hours.

Yesterday, at about this time I was on the end of the phone to Action Challenge, who advised that unfortunately due to a group of seven participants dropping out that my adventure on the 17th March had had to be cancelled....... (I'm allowing this bombshell to drop...)

Of course, this news was just about the last thing I wanted to hear.  There are so many reasons why this trip has taken over my life, for everyone who has donated, everyone who has been good enough to offer encouragement, and practical support it would be completely devastating not to go...never mind the hours in the gym, the 22lbs in weight that I'll never get back,  the climbs up Snowdon, and Ben Nevis in preparation, the chocolate that I could have eaten, and the Guinness I could have enjoyed without moderation... the £1200 I've spent on equipment, ruck sacks, boots, thermals, coat, sleeping bag...you name it, I've been and got it....ready for this...wasted??

So last night was very flat....and then my silver lining to decorate my cloud appeared....

At 10:00 this morning, I received a phone call confirming that I could get onto the trip departing for the same route, a month earlier, on 17th February!!!   OMG??  Just 23 days....not even time to get nervous left!!

Fantastic, for many reasons....firstly, I wrote in an earlier Blog of the coincedence that another person from the same village was doing Kilimanjaro.....well...maybe these coincedences happen for a reason, for now we will be enjoying the slopes together.  What a fantastic bonus....we will not, (shame) be enjoying the same flight home together, however....regretably Action Challenge cannot get me back on a flight from Tanzania until March 1st, meaning that I will "forced" to spend an extra 2 days on the beach, gazing a zebras, or avoiding lions and market traders....it's tough, but I guess thats a price and a hardship I will have to bear for the team!!

What a 24 hours.... 23 days now and counting down quick... I guess as I am in France just now, there is only one way to celebrate.... Fantastique, Magnifique, encore!! encore!....

Kilimanjaro waits...but was clearly impatient that we should become acquainted.  I'm now about as exciting as a dog in a butchers shop.  bring it on!!

www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Do You Want Inspiration With That...?

I'd been looking forward to today for about 10 days now, for two reasons...I have a couple of my kids down from their Mum's, so a good chance to go walk the legs off them somewhere new, but also I was looking forward to meeting up with a Kilimanjaro veteran for some advice....

And there was plenty of advice on the menu at the Towcester Tearooms, and plenty of inspiration all over the walls!!  Owners Tony and Sharon have made a habit of taking on a number of amazing challenges.   On every wall there is another story, another memory.   Cycle rides the length of Britain, Marathons in Paris & London, Canoeing up the Thames, and of course Tony's climb up Kilimanjaro.  

First off, in the morning we headed off to the small village of Gayton, in Northamptonshire for a circular walk through, what turned out to be the muckiest trails around Tiffield and Eastcote.  Poor Samuel could hardly lift his feet through one field as he gathered up some additional ballast.  It was like walking in diving boots!!    Still, it was a refreshing jolly round about 5 miles of Northamptonshire that we'd not visited before, and we did find a little "entertainment" on the way!!   

After an essential trip home to tidy ourselves up, we whizzed off to Towcester for our lunch.   It seems Tony and I have more than a few things in common....apart from the trip up Kilimanjaro, we both share the same taste in glasses!!   Someone suggested we were brothers??

So we had an afternoon, enjoying a great lunch, while Tony regaled us with tips, and advice for taking on Kilimanjaro, as well as some of his memories of that and other challenges. 

"Food Bags for your clothes" excellent for keeping them dry in your pack, but also, easy to locate a change each day if you've pre-packed.

"Try keeping some batteries for you camera under your coat as you get near the top...you don't want to go all that way, and find they are too cold, and your camera doesn't work"

"Pole Pole"...slow slow...is clearly the way to climb Kilimanjaro, a scree top, and altitude makes the last day completely exhausting, but the sunrise at Gilman's Point is the most magnificent anywhere.

Apparently, from the top of Kilimanjaro, you can see more of the earth's surface than from any other point on earth!! 

 Now, that's inspirational.  

It doesn't stop there for Tony and Sharon though...this year Sharon is donating a kidney to a friend in need, and Tony is setting off for a different mountain.  He's raising money this time for the Northamptonshire Alzheimer's Society, one very close to his heart by climbing Mont Blanc.

I'm sure he could do with your support too.  www.justgiving.com/Mont-Blanc-2011

I'm looking forward to a few more coffees in Towcester, and perhaps the odd hike with a very inspirational new friend.

Graham Kennedy is fundraising for Autism Concern

Graham Kennedy is fundraising for Autism Concern

It's true, I am fundraising for Autism Concern.  It's not easy fundraising, there's a balance to be struck between bullying people into donating, when actually they don't wish to, or cannot afford to, and asking for nothing, and most often getting it!!

But it's fun too.  Life is so much richer, the more you give, and giving does not need to be money. Your  time, care, a smile, a well done,  or just a good luck all add value.  Each gift you offer is received with grateful appreciation.  A smile, and a word of encouragement is often the most valuable commodity you can offer.  Ask your children??

And so it is with for people with Autism.  Often misunderstood...naughty, out of control, poorly parented kids, making a nuisance of themselves?  It's easy to miss the point.  Compassion, care and patience are the gifts they need.  Autism Concern helps children with autism reach their potential...helps to recognise that the rarest stones are the most valuable.

Kilimanjaro will be an amazing adventure for me, one which I've dreamed of for many years.  To be able to realise my dream, whilst helping others reach theirs is my gift.  If you can donate, please do....it's infectious...a gift freely given can help the lives of thousands of children, and families. 

Thank you

www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Charity mountain trek helps to raise over £3k - Local - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

Charity mountain trek helps to raise over £3k - Local - Northampton Chronicle & Echo

The Brain behind the mission..."Liz"

Well I have had 3 tasks this particular week to organise all with virtually no notice at all - and this is no.3 - I got a call yesterday night whilst I was at work 'inviting' me to do a 'guest blog' for Graham! So I thought what on earth will I talk about - and this is what I have come up with.

Firstly: - I thought I would share with all Graham's readers that I am more the ideas person behind the fund raising, we had a great fundraising weekend which made a huge difference to the 'pot' with a total of £501.00 with our bottle stall and quiz evening combined - Well actually this total was in fact £301.00 and Parcelforce matched the 1st £200.00 raised - but thought I would still claim that within my total because it sounds more!!

Secondly: - our cook-a-thon raised another £43.00, we were all busy cooking away when I tried to discreetly glance over at all my donations raised and there was a grand total of £6.00!!  I thought 'oh heck' how will I tell Graham I never did too well with this one!!!

Fortunately, I was rescued by a good friend who asked me to make a speech - and being quite unprepared for such a thing - I invited everybody to put there coins in if they would like to, I am more than happy to leave this kind of thing to Graham, but unfortunately he was still busy being innoculated at the surgery - so my good friend Catriona gave me a look of disgust for my complete lack of public speaking skills and took the job on herself - and very quickly the 'pot' got bigger!

Next I recieve a phone call in the middle of the afternoon informing me the newspaper are coming to take pictures in the evening; yep! no problem, and this was duly completed without mishap, Only on buying the paper the next day Sams' facial expression makes him look like the most hyper-active kid in Britian!

Whilst this used to be close to the truth at times he has certainly calmed down with age (he's all of 8!) and he has landed me in loads of trouble in the past, like the time he we'ed from a great height into someones dinner (god knows how she knew he was my son!) but we had to leave this particular ball park in a great hurry!

Or the time he sneeked the water squirter out in the middle of winter instead of the middle of summer and started aiming with great precision at the new neighbours even before they had unloaded their car! Those episodes are in the past and I have to say make fantastic memories - though i'm not sure I would have thought so at the time!!

Finally; - I would love it if you very kind readers of this 'blog' could just nip over to the just giving page and give a few of your coins to make our fund raising for this fabulous charity just that bit bigger - and you don't need to show just how much you have donated by using the hide button if you don't wish too. In the process help me show Graham and everyone involved that I am getting good at this fundraising! All children with this condition really do deserve choice and there parents do a fabulous job.  In Northamptonshire we;re lucky to have a charity like Autism Concern to really help families achieve all these things!

Liz x

Guest Blogger Liz...good at writing, but not great at uploading pictures, so that pleasure was mine...I thought I would share a few that show off just how much fun she is to be around!!  No wonder Sam is doing so well :-)

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Ok...catchy wasn't it?

I thought it sounded better than the Pincushion, the Thermometer and the Cook-a-Thon.....blimey today has had some variety in it.  

One of the many tasks towards preparing for my little jaunt up Kilimanjaro has been to get myself inocculated against every disease known to mankind...and probably some more besides.  So today, I trooped off down to my local surgery for a selection on needles, as for a few moments I became a human pincushion. 

Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diptheria, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever jabbed in one after the other...Phil Taylor (15xWorld Darts Champion) would have been proud of this nurse, I nearly shouted "One Hundred and Eightyyyyy!!!   Anyway, I've never been really bothered by needles, but I was upset by two things...

• The Bill - Oh my goodness.....4 x injections, and a course of Malaria Tablets...that'll be £93 please
• David Cassidy  !!   Yes...would you believe while I was lying there allowing the nurse to jab me to oblivion, I was forced to stare at a poster sized picture of David Cassidy on the ceiling.  Put there apparently to take the mind elsewhere for the ladies who normally occupy the nurses room??

 And so to the Thermometer....Look,it's over there on the left :-)  When I first considered taking on this challenge, I hoped to raise £3000 for Autism Concern.   Now I thought that was quite ambitious, but wow!!  I have 9 weeks left before I go, and I'm there already....YOU'RE there already. 

Just amazing, and I would like to thank you all so much for your support, in many ways. 

So it's been a rethink...I need to raise the bar...but what to??  £5895 thats £1 for each meter up Kilimanjaro.  Your donations really do help, not only Autism Concern, but they also provide a huge lift for me in my preparation, and motivation.  So far this challenge has consumed me for the last 4 months.  9 weeks to go....Please??  Don't stop!!  Help me to reach the top of this mountain...every £1 you donate will help me make one more step, one more meter til I reach the £5895 summit.  Thank you.

And finally tonight, I have enjoyed the most fantastic dinner, cooked with great enthusiasm by Sam, and Jessica at the cook-a-thon.  It's gone so well, I have decided to let Liz put together a guest blog, which you can see tomorrow. 

This challenge simply would not be possible without support in many forms, and Liz has been quietly going about thinking up some fantastic fundraising ideas, which can engage people in a fun activity, and at the same time earn us a few donations.   Tonight, she succeeded in persuading 30 enthusiastic children to come along and take part in a cook-a-thon.  Imagine...almost every mother from the school now tucking into a Chicken Biryani for dinner, prepared by their 5 & 6yr old children....I love it.   Thank you everyone....and thank you Liz xx

Sam has a day in the Malverns

Great day today, Sam and I headed off to the Malverns with Charlie & Murphy for a hike. 

Graham? "Why are we going out in the middle of the night?"  hmm...Sam, normally a morning person, struggled for a while to understand that it could be both dark....and morning??  Well, with the sun not rising until about 7:30 this morning, it was dark for quite a while after we got up.

Sandwiches packed for Sam, and a flask of Leek & Potato soup for me, we were on our way.  The weather today was fabulous,  but it was an interesting drive down...very cold overnight, and the roads were like sheet glass with black ice everywhere. 

Anyway, we got there...and pretty soon Sam was off chasing after the dogs up over the hills.  We found our first waypoint, and headed off to find the Giant's cave....not sure that this was the right one, unless this was a very small giant, but Sam enjoyed himself imagining that he was a caveman..

We found a big handprint on the wall of the cave, although Charlie & Murphy seemed less impressed!  

Sam said to me, "when is it 11 o'clock Graham, so we can have chocolate!!"  "I wish I was made of chocolate, he says...then I would eat myself"   

We headed off up the hills, for a great view over the reservoir, Murphy & Charlie introduced themselves every other dogs on the hills today, but I kept them on the lead when this horse came strolling round the corner.  After a hike of about 2.5 miles over Hangman's Hill, and Midsummer hill up to the Obelisk, where we sat down for some well earned lunch.

Down through the woods, dodging puddles, (most of the time...Sam did decide to jump in one up to his knees!!) we wandered off down the Worcester Way until we reached Swinyard Hill, and we could pick up the reservoir again.  Another 1.5miles or so, and we were back at the car.

Sam had a fabulous day out, really enjoyed his walk round the hills.  "Are you going up much higher than this Graham?" he says as we got to the top of Hangman's Hill....Yes Sam...just a bit. 

"And are you camping at night time?"  Yes Sam

"Is it just on one night, Graham?"  no Sam....I'll be gone for 10 altogether....

"Oh great, he says...you won't be able to tell me off, so that means I can do whatever I like!!"

He kept me entertained all day with his quips, and we had a great time...thanks Sam.