Steve's mission up Mt Kilimanjaro - July 2013

What am I doing? In July 2013, I will be climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5,895m (19,341 feet) above sea level. Due to the high elevation, low temperature, and occasional high winds, this will be a challenging trek and probably the hardest thing I'll ever do. I will be climbing the Machame Route – considered to be slightly more challenging but also more scenic. I will travel through dense rainforest with muddy paths and temperatures of approximately 27 degrees Celsius, through moorlands and barren alpine desert environments, rocky areas and also the snow covered peak with temperatures as low as MINUS 25 degrees Celsius at night. More information on the route can be found at: http://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/machame_route.htm Why am I doing this Trek? In April 2012, I sadly lost my Father to Bowel Cancer. The last day I spoke to him he told me two things. The first being that he loved me and the second he told me to enjoy myself. I always have and always will but I promised that I would. With this in mind me, my brother and my sister have agreed to complete a challenge in memory of my Dad and to raise money for bowel cancer. We will be raising money for a project that Cancer Research are currently funding. The project supports life-saving research into the causes of bowel cancer, focusing on the molecular changes which may cause bowel cancer. For more details about the research please visit http://myprojects.cancerresearchuk.org/projects/life-saving-research-into-causes-bowel-cancer This research is needed because over 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the third most common cancer in the country. One in two people diagnosed with bowel cancer now survive their disease for at least five years, twice as many as 40 years ago. However, one in two people is not enough and this kind of research will help doctors to understand how bowel cancer develops and will eventually lead to new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. Any donation no matter how small will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Steve Other members of the team Jackie Richards – http://myprojects.cancerresearchuk.org/fundraise/fundraising-pages/kilimanjarotrek2013 Andrew Richards- Link will follow