Kili or bust!

No challenge too hard

G’day, friends!

This is a bit of a long one, but please stick with it for the twist at the end .

If you know me, you’ll know a few things for sure:

I love the great outdoors.

I’m always up for a physical challenge.

I’m a keen birdwatcher.

And I’m always happy to combine all of that with a good cause—especially one that helps people see again.

So here’s what’s happening…

This June, I’ll be trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro—Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world!

 I'll be taking on the climb over 8 days via the stunning Lemosho Route, which winds through rainforests, moorlands, alpine deserts, and eventually, into the Arctic Zone near the summit.

That’s five different climate zones, no showers, tents every night, no electricity, and definitely no Netflix.

It’ll be hot and humid and then cold (we're talking -10°C to -20°C near the summit), so as I'm originally from Newcastle, I should probably pack a long sleeved shirt and maybe a light jumper for those cooler nights.

The fitness is less of a concern for me than the risk of altitude sickness, it can stop you in your tracks and all you can do is descend to safety. 

It’ll be tough, especially on summit night wwhenour group will set off around midnight and I’ll probably question my life choices at least once around 4am as I shuffle upwards in the dark, with nothing but a head torch to guide me. But with any luck, we’ll reach the summit in time to watch the sunrise from 19,341 feet (5,895 metres)—a sunrise from the “Roof of Africa.”

And here’s why I’m doing it:

To raise money for the Fred Hollows Foundation, an incredible charity that restores sight to people who are needlessly blind—often from cataracts—across the developing world and in outback Australia. In many of these places, it only takes $25 (about £12.50) to fund a life-changing cataract operation. That’s the price of a round of drinks, or a few takeaway coffees.

I'm going to see some amazing scenery and wildlife, massive starry night skies and epic sunrises.

I don't take my gift of sight for granted. I want other folks to have their cataract blindness reversed so that they get to see the beauty and the basics again.

Since 2020, with the help of friends, family, and colleagues, you and I have already raised $4,550—restoring sight to up to 182 people!

That’s 182 lives changed.

182 people who can now see their loved ones again.

182 people who got their independence back.

And now, I’d love your help to get that number up to 200.

$450 is all it’ll take. That’s just 18 people donating $25 or £12.50 each.

If you can help—even just a little—you’ll be part of something life-changing.

And as for the twist in the tale…

Well, I couldn’t be prouder to be doing this with my adventurous daughter, Hannah. She’s travelled all over the world, and now we get to take on this epic challenge together, side by side. I reckon that sunrise at the summit will be one to remember—for both of us.

So if you can, please donate. And if you can’t right now, a share or a kind word goes a long way too.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping me give the gift of sight to just a few more people.

I feel very lucky to be able to be doing this, but wish us luck anyway!