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. 

Friends Like these.....

So, on February 5th, 2011 the last BIG fundraiser for my Kilimanjaro Climb in March.

The Woodford Halse Social Club committee have come up with the most amazing offer to help my fundraising. 

Local Band, Kickstart have agreed to come along and play for free...fantastic rock from the 60's to the 00's including covers from The Kaiser Chiefs, Green Day, Madness, Snow Patrol, Paul Weller, The Jam, Primal Scream, Stereophonics, the list goes on and on....this is going to be one hell of a night.

We have a disco,  Wii games, and competitions, Raffle Prizes...this is going to be a fantastic night, and a great opportunity to support the Charity, and enjoy yourselves. 

If don't share any other blog page this year....please share this one.....lets make this the most amazing send off to my Charity Fundraising.  Autism Concern are a small, local charity, doing amazing work with children and adults, schools, social care groups affected by autism in our community.

The Social Club Committee, and the band have agreed that 100% of the funds raised on the door, and through the various competitions, raffles on the night will all be donated to help. 

I can't wait.....with friends like these......Kilimanjaro waits, patiently....I have the most fantastic wind under my wings for this challenge.  Thank you :-)

www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

Homework....

Schools went back today, so once again we have the nightly ritual of amazingly difficult homework for an 8 year old boy with autism (and his Mum). 

Does his school not realise that Sam does not know much about Maths!!   He does know the names of the 1st three people on the moon, and he knows what a triceritops is...he also knows loads about fire engines and smoke alarms, Tutenkhamun and World War 1.

He knows what a Tudor House looks like, he knows that Anne Boleyn had her head chopped off, and he knows where oxygen comes from. 

He knows why there is a footprint on the moon belonging to John Glenn and he also knows that they didn't bring home the lunar buggy, and that Neil Armstrong left a flag there.  He thinks they should have tidied up!!

He knows that you cannot have a shower unless you wet the bed, you never get dressed before breakfast, and you cannot possibly go to bed without a story with pictures in it. 

He has a facination with feet.  You should be sure to have shoes with laces on unless you want him to come along and take them off so he can look at your toes.  He's like a super absorbant sponge....you never realise just how much he soaks up, and suddenly, without warning you give him a squeeze and amazing facts fall out, that you just wouldn't believe he would know about.

Just what do they teach them these days??

He's quite entertaining to have around....and although he has the attention span of a goldfish, he really does know a lot more than you think!!

The moral here is....don't judge a book by the cover.  It may just contain something very interesting.

70 days to go...10 Weeks.  Kilimanjaro waits....but not for much longer :-)

Please sponsor me www.justgiving.com/graham-kennedy1

74 Days....

Well, the last 4 months have shot past...it seems like just yesterday that I was thinking to myself, how will I persuade Liz to let me do this?   Amazing that a little pop up advert can send you such a journey of discovery..(excuse the pun), but that little red box from Action Challenge which encouraged me to join up has completely transformed the last few months.

Ambition, has moved now to excitement, and now that the year has a "11" on the end of it, well it all seems very close.  In fact, it's 74 days...just 10 more Sunday's??  Blimey...that's just amazing.

I'm nearly done, preparation wise....still loads to do for fitness, but in terms of equipment, I'm there...visa to send off for, and appointments with the doctor for a few injections, and that'll be that.   Today, I confirmed my insurance, bought myself a 4-season sleeping bag, and my kit bag for the journey.   I'm sure if Liz or I sat down to work out just how much I've spent on this trip she'd be having kittens?  So I won't tell her!!

But here's a quick checklist

Boots (by now well worn & blister proof)
Day bag - 35 litres
Ruck Sack - 80 litres
Sleeping Bag - 4 season (warm enough, I hope at -20 degrees)

Walking poles

Thermals (Top & Bottom)

Mountain standard coat

Head Torch (Summit day starts with 6 hours trek through the dark to about 17,500ft to watch the sunrise before making the final ascent to the Uhuru)

Camel Back - 3litres

Water Purification tablets

Mosquitto face net

Mosquitto repellent & repellent bands

Snoods x 2

Camera (including a replacement!!)

Gloves x 2 (Cold weather & Even Colder Weather)

Water Purification Tablets

Sleeping Bag Liners

Waterproof Trousers

Thermal Hat

Diahorrea Tablets

and a Partridge in a pear tree...

All I need now....?  Your sponsorship.  

I'm doing this for a very special charity, local to Northamptonshire, where I live, helping children and adults with Autism.  Autism Concern