NEW ONLINE DONATION PAGE

If you would like to donate to the Kilimanjaro Tea Party go to my virgin money fundraising page at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KiliTeaParty

Many thanks

Jim

10km Run thwarted!

I am sad to report that injury has dealt a blow to my fund-raising efforts after I had to pull out of the Asics London 10km run. I have developed pains in my right ankle after increasing my distance up to 7km. Despite purchasing new trainers, it has now become painful to put pressure on my right ankle. I went to see the physiotherapist in Haslemere who was most amused with my "hyper mobile" ankle. It seems that my right foot is flat causing me to pronate the foot as I walk/run and further twisting my toes in the opposite direction. This has over time set up a weakness in my ankle and put pressure on my knee and hip. My right hip isslightly lower than my left and my left leg muscles have less range of movement due to over-compensation for the weakness in the right. So its orthotic inserts for me at a whopping cost of £300! However that doesn't solve the problem in ankle, and running is out for now :-( I will however be running a 10km race at some point in the future. Running has become a complete joy for me, especially through the woods here at Haslemere onto Gibbet Hill. Watch this space....

Dr. Wayne joins Team Kili!

A hearty welcome to Wayne Dawson on board for the Kilimanjaro Tea Party! Wayne and I were both undergraduates at the University of Plymouth studying ecology when we spent many a happy hour getting to know the special places of Devon- the tors, moors and stone circles- and learning to climb (not very well). Wayne knows Tanzania well after spending much of his PhD on invasive plants there, and has knows his way around the local dialect. A very useful man to have on board.Wayne is now an eminent doctor of plant ecologist working in Switzerland although at heart he will always be the chap that gets really really excited about our very green, very still friends. I cant wait to see his response to Kilimanjaro's flora. He is already gushing about the giant Senecios!

Welcome to Team Kili Dr Wayne!

WILD THINGS

There have been some big changes in the Kilimanjaro Tea Party HQ recently. After careful exploration and with the good advice of a friend (thanks Sam Ross!) I have found a new operator to take me to the snow-capped summit. WILD THINGS SAFARIS are a locally based outfit (in Tanzania that is), and have cheaper rates thena Charity Challenge, although all-importantly this doesn't mean they reduce the amount they are paying to the guide and porters on the trek. Wild Things are just the tour operator however, so there is no Minimum Sponsorship amount anymore.

With this change of operator, I have decided that I will foot the entire bill for the trip meaning that ALL MONEY RAISED WILL GO DIRECTLY TO PTES. I have felt uncomfortable for some time with the Charity Challenge approach and realise that it might have put you off sponsoring if you thought your money might just be going to send me to Africa. Well no more!!!! So please do sponsor me- funds are tight during this global recession but your money is never better directed than going towards the fight to save endangered species worldwide.