Everest here I come, well base camp at least. On 31 March 2012 I am off to Nepal to join a trek to Everest Base Camp. This is an 18 day trek from Lukla which sits at 2800m to Everest base camp at an altitude of 5540m.  What possessed me to agree to such an undertaking I hear you ask? One sunny lunch time in May last year I met up with one of my oldest friends (a work colleague from those halcyon days at  Burnley Borough Council - Christine Billington) who glibly told me that she was planning to do this trek in 2012, on her own. Mad fool I thought, but even after all these years, the Burnley Borough Council team spirit still bubbles within me, so I felt compelled to agree to accompany her on this intrepid mission.  I duly paid my deposit and before you can say "Sherpa Tensing" we are in training and marching up a steep gradient in the Lake District.  That's when I remembered: I hate walking up hill!

I am both excited and apprehensive at the prospect of this trip. It will be a huge personal challenge, but more importantly a great opportunity to raise some cash for a worthy cause.  Rather than go for one of the more well known charities, I have chosen to support a a local hospice in my home town of Burnley where my mother has worked as a  volunteer for over twenty years.  My chosen charity is Pendleside Hospice which provides for the special needs of people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by offering in-patient, day therapy and hospice at  home services, alongside support for families and carers.  Care is provided by their In-Patient Unit, Day therapy or their team of Hospice at Home nurses.

All its services are provided for free. But the cost of the care is considerable and will exceed £3.2 million this year.  Of this, some £2.35 million (2011 figures) has to come from fundraising events, sponsorship and donations.  My trip is fully funded by me and I graciously ask for your support in helping this most worthy cause. Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.