Lucy climbs Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of WWF

Dear family, friends and kind supporters,

 

On 7th September 2023, I'll be embarking upon a 7-day trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in support of the World Wildlife Fund. This expedition is organised by Choose a Challenge and will involve climbing Africa's tallest mountain to an altitude of 5,895m. In a group of 10, I will set up camp each night after approximately 8 hours of climbing each day, at temperatures ranging from more than 30 degrees to sub-zero. One day alone will involve a 16-18 hour hike starting at midnight, where I will reach the summit of snow-capped Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding peak in the world.

 

Mt. Kilimanjaro in all its glory:

 

 

As I mentioned, I'll be undertaking this mammoth challenge in aid of WWF. They are the world's leading independent conservation organisation with a mission of conserving nature and reducing the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world, and we're the last that can do anything about it.

 

On a personal level, I've always chosen to support WWF as I feel that whatever challenges we face, getting back to nature can bring us peace, tranquillity, balance and perspective. Whenever I've been struggling to deal with mental or physical issues, stress or grief, getting outside to explore the world we live in and do my bit to protect it has brought me back to life. I doubt I am alone in this, and I ask you to reflect on how essential nature on this planet is to our existence.

 

Through the work of WWF, here are just a few ways our money could help:

 

£15 could buy 100 seedlings to plant trees in areas that have been destroyed, and restore our life-giving forests.

£20 could fund an anti-poaching patrol in Nepal for one day, helping protect tigers and rhinos.

£30 Could buy the equipment needed to replant seagrass in UK coastal waters and restore marine habitats.

£150 could pay for food and care for a sniffer dog for one year. Sniffer dogs can identify wildlife parts, helping us to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

£500 could help WWF test an early warning detection system to forewarn communities of wild elephants approaching villages.

£5,000 could pay for notching 20 rhinos, helping to monitor the current population and ensure rhinos can be identified and accounted for.

 

I don't have a great deal of time to fundraise and prepare myself both physically and mentally for the challenge. But I am SO SO ready for the challenge. Whilst I have done a great deal of hiking in the past, never have I climbed anything so high, camped on the side of a mountain for so many days and nights, been to Africa (where I will definitely get bitten to smithereens) or gone so far away on my own. So it is safe to say this could be the biggest thing I've ever done and the hardest challenge I've faced. But I'm going to put myself on the line for a cause I care about so much.

 

All of the money you donate throughout the year will go to WWF. I will be paying into this fundraiser too, so that I can cover the costs of my travel. As such, you can trust I will not be using your donations for that. Once I hit that all important fundraising total, all of the thousands you donate will go straight to WWF to further the vital services that they provide and 100% of any Gift Aid or money that I raise above the fundraising target will stay with WWF.

 

I really hope you consider donating to make this venture a reality and to help preserve our wonderful world. I would also greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word about my challenge!

 

Thanks so much in advance,

 

Love Lucy xxx