Climbing Mount Kerinci to fundraise for those in need!

Hello! I’m Laura and I'm fundraising for three charities which are close to my heart. These include two cancer research charities, as well as a local Indonesian organisation. I will be taking on a completely new challenge of climbing the highest volcano in Southeast Asia, and using this as an opportunity to fundraise.

10 years ago on 26th May, we sadly lost our beautiful Mum, Jill Duane, after her battle with cancer. Since then, I’ve had other close family members and friends who have been impacted by cancer; I’m sure that almost everyone has. The disease is heart-breaking for all.

Since losing Mum when I was 17 years old, my perspective on life has changed dramatically. Everyday I am grateful for the gift that is life as I’ve seen how quickly it can be taken away.

At age 25, I decided to follow in my Mum's footsteps and travel, as she loved to do, and I started my travels in Southeast Asia. Here, my passion and love for travelling blossomed; I began to experience new cultures, and my eyes were opened to the world around me. Alongside this came further gratitude for my life and for where I was born, as I saw how others do not have access to the same privileges. Not everyone has access to food, water, shelter, education, or basic healthcare.

On 24th June, the date of my Mum’s birthday, my boyfriend Clint and I will be flying to Indonesia, landing in Medan on the island of Sumatra. In July, we will be climbing the highest (and still active!) volcano in Indonesia, Mount Kerinci. We’ve decided to challenge ourselves by doing this alone. This will involve: 3 days of jungle navigation and hiking; extreme weather changes; carrying our own food, water camping gear and 20kg backpacks; sleeping at 3000m altitude; ascending the summit in the dark for sunrise; also being on the lookout for the wild Sumatran tiger... the risks of climbing an active volcano in these conditions seem self-explanatory!

I have never attempted anything like this before. It will be a mental and physical challenge like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Yet, I constantly remind myself that it remains a privilege to choose to partake in this challenge and temporary struggle. Others do not get the privilege of choice.

I’m hoping that with your sponsorship and support, together we can raise money for those who are in need.

How I will be distributing the funds:

34% of the donations will be going to Cancer Research UK; inspired by my Mum, my Uncle Ronnie, my Aunty Dee and my incredible friend Faith, who is currently fighting, and also fundraising for Cancer Research UK herself. This isn't to exclude my other relatives and friends who have also been impacted by cancer in some way. Your strength and bravery will always be an inspiration to me. Cancer Research UK is one of the leading international cancer research charities. See more about their strategy here: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/cancer_research_uk_-_our_strategy_0.pdf

33% of the donations will go to the International Cancer Foundation. This is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping those affected by cancer in low and middle income countries. Life expectancies of those with cancer in these countries are dramatically lower than in higher income countries, due to a lack of resources. They currently have projects that are developing cancer research and treatments in Vietnam, multiple African countries, and Peru.

See more here:

https://internationalcancerfoundation.org/

33% of the donations will go to a local Indonesian organisation, (yet to be decided), as a token of thank you for welcoming us into the beautiful country. We will personally provide this once in the country and provide evidence of this.

Following the climb, I will provide photo evidence of the funds going directly to each organisation. We aim to provide a completion video as well, so that you can be a part of our journey, watching us climb Mount Kerinci.

Thank you to all for your support!

**Disclaimer** the GoFundMe page may state that the donations are going to ‘Sally’. Please don’t be alarmed - this is my lovely Aunty who is helping me with accessing the funds here in Australia. All donations will go to myself and then distributed as explained above **