I will be climbing Mount Tauhara every day for 15 days, which will be the equivalent elevation of Mount Everest, at 8848 meters high. I will be hiking from the 18th August to 1st September.

The hike is a very steep incline and challenging terrain, it will take me 2.5 hours to return each day. At the top there are stunning vistas of Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu which are currently covered in snow, given that it is winter here in New Zealand. I will mostly be walking early in the mornings (cold and frosty!) but some days I will do it after I finish work which will be a late afternoon sunset hike (cold and dark!).

I am undertaking this challenge to raise money for my dear friend Holly, who has very recently undergone urgent craniocervical surgery, which is a fusion of her skull and neck. This is due to Holly's Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which is a connective tissue disorder caused by faulty collagen genes. I’ve known Holly for 16 years and throughout she has lived with and struggled with severe chronic nerve pain caused by her conditions which have intensely increased over recent years to the point where life had become extremely challenging and at times unbearable for her.

Over the 16 years of our friendship we have experienced a lot together and I love her dearly. It has been so sad and painful to see her in such agony over the years. And especially now, while I am so far away in New Zealand, I wanted to do my part to support her and fundraise towards her operation.

Neither the NHS nor private sector in the UK perform these fusion operations currently, so after much consultation within the UK, Spain and the US, Holly decided to go ahead to America to have her operation, which of course came at a huge cost, around £150k. Holly had her operation very recently and thankfully it did go very well and it has drastically decreased the amount of pain she is in. She is still in the US recovering and will have to travel there again in November for further check ups. Holly has her own fundraising page (linked here) if you want to have a look at her more detailed story or donate directly there. Holly also recently had the Telegraph newspaper share her story which you can read here.

I have set up this fundraiser to ask my friends and loved ones to support me in my physical challenge to hike to raise funds for Holly. If you feel able, please do donate below, or if not, please share with your friends and family to support Holly.

I think I am going to find this daily hike a challenge, as I am also working every day in the meantime so I will be fitting it around that. I know it will take a physical toll on my body but it is something I want to do and know that I can do. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to read this, and sharing my journey. I will be documenting my journey as I go and sharing here.

Thank you so much!

Indi