Wendy's Kili Trek - Finally!

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Action and every donation will help.

Kilimanjaro Trek February 2022 – Finally!

To those of you who know me as a friend, colleague, family or even simply by association, whether that be work, gym, social media or as a neighbour you may or may not know that 2019 proved to be a life changing period for my Son (Harrison) & I, when my wife Wendy was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer at age 55 in June 2019.

So, what is pancreatic cancer?

You may not know much about this type of cancer, but it is very invasive especially at Stage 3/4, what this means is the cancer has spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs or lining of the abdomen, often referred to as metastatic disease and have travelled to other parts of the body. These tumours are not respectful, and treatments will focus on slowing down the growth of the tumour and symptom management. These treatments focusing on quality of life are called palliative treatments and involve a palliative care professional. Patients most frequently receive chemotherapy with clinical trials, another treatment option for patients with this tumour type.

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers, with five-year survival less than 7%. Here are just a few famous names that I know of who all have one thing in common, they all died of Pancreatic Cancer - Joan Crawford, Aretha Franklin, John Hurt, Patrick Swayze, Michael Landon, Luciano Pavarotti, Alan Rickman, Steve Jobs, to name just a few, I’m sure there are many more that we can all add?

So back to Wendy and her journey - Diagnosed in June 2019. The journey thereafter was certainly a roller coaster of emotions and dead ends, however she fought & remained courageous to the end, Harrison and I both managed to spend time with Wendy up to and including her passing, she had accepted the card she had been dealt in life and now rests in peace with the angels, a star that shines ever brighter just 25 weeks from original diagnosis!

So, this brings me to my request. Harrison and I are both aiming to walk up Mt Kilimanjaro. Originally intended to happen in August 2020 but following two cancellations due to dreaded COVID we can now confirm we are finally making the trip effective from 4th February this year!

I appreciate many of you have already helped through a previous donations page (no longer available!) so today we launch one last bid to raise some additional funds for a good cause to help and support us and the many people who seek help with this pancreatic diagnosis in the future. To those who have already donated thank you, your money is already 100% safely with the chosen charities at the time, meanwhile to those who thought about it, knew Wendy, know Harrison or I we ask for any help that you can find, even the smallest donations help we today launch a fresh appeal for your help and any assistance you can provide, to hit our original target of £5,000, having previously managed to raise £4,000.

Here are some facts about the task in hand:

1. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 19,340ft / 5895m, being one of the 7 main summits in the world.

2. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again! The most recent activity was about 200 years ago, with the last major eruption circa 360,000 years ago.

3. Kilimanjaro has five distinct ecological zones which climbers must experience on their way to the top. These include:

4. Approx 30,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year. It is not a technical peak and does not require superhuman abilities to scale it but Altitude-related problems are the most common reason climbers turn back. It is often reported that as many as 50% of climbers fail due to altitude sickness.

We will be climbing up the Machame route, over 7-day itinerary and the route provides a fantastic landscape and scenery views, whilst helping with acclimatisation to the altitude as it contours around the mountain, rather than going straight up. I will be averaging circa 15kms per day over 7 days walking circa 7/8 hours per day, 4 days up and 3 days down!

Your donation/s, of which every penny goes to the charity as named, will go towards research helping find a cure, or at least an earlier detection for sufferers in the future.

I have never asked before but please find it in yourself to help, as stated before every little bit helps. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and below are some pictures of Wendy over the last few years.

ROBERT JONES

More information about Pancreatic Cancer Action:

Registered Charity in England & Wales (1137689) and Scotland (SC049777).

Pancreatic Cancer Action is working towards saving lives. Only 7% of patients will survive beyond 5 years & this number has barely changed in over 40 years. Through our awareness campaigns and educational programmes for medical professionals and the public alike we aim to get more people diagnosed in time for surgery - currently the only potential for a cure. Please help us "Change the Numbers" for pancreatic cancer.