My childhood dreams were to represent the UK, cycling at the Olympics, or climb the highest mountains in the world.

I have missed the London Olympic cycling team for 2012, but still want to challenge myself in the spirit of the Olympic moto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger).

On March 30th I will begin my journey to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patar in the Himalayas. I aim to reach a maximum height of 5554m or 18,200 feet where there will be half the amount of oxygen available in Cheshire.

I will be trekking for two weeks and will be posting pictures and diary entries on this blog, to record my journey and share my experiences with my wife Jill, my family & friends and the Hartford Manor Community.

Alongside the trek I hope to raise money for the "Make a Wish Foundation", who will be supporting one of our Year 6 pupils, Alfie Rogers, and his family. Alfie wishes to visit "The World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios, Florida, with his family with support from the Foundation.

Alfie has been absent from school since July 2011, as he continues to receive treatment for bone cancer. Alfie is responding well to his treatment and has just started visiting school, to work in a small group with his classmates for up to one hour a day.

Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, is a charity with a single purpose - granting wishes to children and young people aged 3-17 fighting life-threatening conditions.

If you want to sponsor my attempt to reach Everest Base Camp and Kala Patar, and help make Alfie's wish come true, please visit my "Just Giving" page using the link on the right.

Donations through "Just Giving" are fast and totally secure. Your details are safe - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted e-mails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid (an additional 28%) is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too.

This is not an organised charity trek, I am self funding this trip and all donations will go directly to the "Make a Wish Foundation".

Thank you for your support

Simon Kidwell

Sunday, 15 April 2012

I've finished walking

The last three days I have walked 40 miles and descended a knee crunching 3000m. One of my big concerns before the trek was how well my dodgy footballer knees would stand up to the pounding. Thankfully, with the assistance of my trekking poles and Delman carrying most of my luggage, my knees have survived. Being carried down the mountain by an angry yak would have been an undignified end to my journey.

One of the advantages of having come from such a high altitude is the increased fitness on the inclines. I am told this increased aerobic capacity only lasts a couple of weeks, but I hope to show the "Sandbach Sunday Cyclers" my new turn of speed on the local Cheshire cols in the coming weeks.

I have a flight booked out of Lukla at 6am tomorrow. I am due back in the UK on Wednesday morning and hopefully will be back at Hartford Manor at lunchtime, for one of Mrs. Stackhouse's roast dinners.

Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous15 April 2012 at 12:07

    Well done Simon. You must have some fabulous stories to tell and memories to treasure. See you on Wednesday

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous15 April 2012 at 12:28

    i liked what you said about Mrs Stackhouses dinner! You are coming back on my friends birthday! You have done really well and you will be very tired so we had better behave in school!
    Beth year 5

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)