From one of our members, Lesley Renteurs

I have decided to do another hiking challenge raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support – this time I have signed up to the Everest Base Camp hike in November 2013!

As some of you may remember over 3 years ago I did my first challenge for Macmillan when I hiked across Iceland covering around 100km in 6 days. I have wanted to do another challenge for a while but I wanted to try something a little different and if possible even harder! The Everest Base Camp challenge is a little harder – in fact it is classified as ‘extreme’ on the Macmillan events site. It was also one on my ‘bucket list’ and somewhere I’d always dreamt of going but never really expected I would, so when Macmillan decided to do this for the first time I simply had to sign up.

A little insight into what the challenge entails – The hike starts after we fly into Lukla one of the world’s most dangerous airports – perched on the side of a mountain!! Then we trek to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. We will have to take time to acclimatise to the altitude along the way and will finally reach the highpoint at Kalapathar – 5,545m (that’s 18,192 ft in old money!) with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers and seeing Mount Everest up close and personal. Now this doesn’t sound too bad until you Google some of the places we’re going and realise just how high 5545m is as well as seeing pictures of huge gorges crossed by very rickety looking rope bridges – not good for someone who at this moment in time is not the fittest person and who is really scared of heights and especially bridges with gaps!!! Crikey!!!

As last time, the real aim of the challenge is to raise as much money as I can for Macmillan Cancer Support with the target being £4350 of which 62% goes to Macmillan. The remained is the cost of all the travel and accommodation expenses which I will be paying for myself so meaning every penny people donate will go directly to Macmillan.

Macmillan Cancer Support are a wonderful organisation helping support all those affected by cancer. 1 in 3 of us will be affected by cancer one way or the other at some point in our lives, with some of us already having had their help and support.

I will be holding various events over the coming months so if you would like to help you may like to get involved.
If you would like to donate please visit my just giving site where you can also see how my training and fundraising is going:
https://www.justgiving.com/Lelrenteurs

I also have an online craft shop where I’m selling unique handmade gifts, cards and up-cycled jewellery so if your still looking for something unique for Christmas then do have a look: http://folksy.com/shops/lrenteurs

And finally for those who like visiting Christmas fairs I have a stall at the local Paddock Farm Nursery just past the Croft Circuit on Sunday 9th December so do come along and say hello and perhaps purchase something Christmassy!

Many thanks in anticipation and if anyone wants to check out my events I’m on Facebook – just look for Lesley Renteurs.