So Alex, why are you climbing Mount Kilimajaro?

 

A fair question many of you have asked is why am I climbing the 4th highest mountain in the world. The short answer is of course to raise funds for HSO - Herts Schools Outreach. However, many people would say there are other ways to fundraise, for example, jumping out of a plane is a much quicker journey up and down whilst running a 5-10km would require less training, is more achievable, and cost less. However, the challenge of training for the best part of the next 12 months, trekking for seven days and the inevitable altitude sickness make this an extraordinary challenge which is lucky because HSO is an extraordinary charity. 

Who Are HSO - Herts Schools Outreach?

Founded in 2019 by my friend and fellow Kilimanjaro challenger Michaela Johnson, HSO is a support service for all children and young people across the UK promoting and enhancing positive mental health change. 

Since 2019, HSO has positively impacted and supported over 1,272 children and young people and with the Covid 19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis impacting children and young people, the mental health needs of children is at an all-time high. 

As a result, HSO works in primary and secondary schools across Hertfordshire with weekly sessions focused on the needs of the individual child so that their individual needs and challenges can be tackled. HSO also works closely with all other parties invested in that child (parents, carers and the school staff) to ensure that techniques learned can be implemented outside of the sessions. 

With the increased demand for our services comes the need for additional funding to allow us to respond to this demand. This is ultimately why I will be climbing Kilimanjaro next year, your support will allow this amazing charity to continue to support children and young people in Hertfordshire and as result, address the lengthening waiting list that currently exists for access to children's mental health services. 

To take on a true one in a lifetime challenge

From the people I have spoken to, very few people climb Mount Kilimanjaro once, let alone twice! When I first found out about this opportunity, I wasn't sure that I would be able to do this. However, its highly unlikely this opportunity will also come up again for me so I agreed to it, knowing that I would regret it come June 2024 seeing this opportunity and not grabbing it with both hands. 

Not only that, the mental challenge of pushing myself far beyond my perceived limits should hold me in good stead for the years to come. If I can conquer the mountain, it's highly likely I will be able to conquer whatever my next challenge is. 

From unhealthy to healthy

Have you ever looked back at old photos and not recognised yourself? Well, I have and it's a horrible feeling. I look back at photos from before and during the pandemic in 2020 and only now do I notice how unhealthy I was. At my heaviest, I was 24 and a half stone or pretty much the size of two average-sized men. Since then and up to this weekend, I have lost 78 pounds or 5 and a half stone! 

The training for Mount Kilimanjaro comes at an ideal time for me to kick my fitness training to the next level, getting back to a weight where I feel healthy and more importantly happy! More on my training plans in next week's blog but as an example, the last week, I walked 44km or 27 miles as part of this training so come June 2024, I hope to be in the best possible position to climb Kilimanjaro.

That's all from me this week, hope you found this edition interesting to know why I'm undertaking the challenge. Next week, a review of my first few weeks of training. 

See you along the trail!