Thursday 18 July 2013

£100,000 for Macmillan!!! And six months to go

Several colleagues have remarked that we have hit another milestone.

On this day in six months time (18th January 2014), our first team will be preparing to return from Tanzania at the end of their expedition, and the Nottingham group will be arriving at the foot of Kilimanjaro for the start of the climb.

But that is not the biggest milestone this week. More importantly, the Macmillan team have confirmed that we have collectively exceeded the £100,000 fundraising mark.

Wow! £100K already. And lots more fundraising to come.

The next six months will bring yet more highlights. Keep up the great work everyone.

Neil Jones

Friday 12 July 2013

Whetting our appetite

Two colleagues (Reena and Justine) have just returned from their own Kilimanjaro adventure. Here is a summary of their trip, including several key insights and tips...

“WOW!!! It is great to see how much you have already fundraised, and to read about the activities you have already been involved in! From climbing Snowdon, training sessions, and altitude chambers; your experience seems to have started off great and it is only going to get better!

We have just returned from Kilimanjaro and we had a truly amazing, unforgettable, and fun experience. We wanted to wish you all the best with your training and even more luck for your actual climbs!

Kilimanjaro 2013
Starting the climb
We don’t want to give the whole game away but we have a few things we would like to share with you.

Undoubtedly, Kili was both a challenge and a delight. The first time you spot the summit (for us, it was from around 10,000ft), it really brings home how far you have come to get there. It will be your constant goal. It will be all you will talk about. Whether you reach the top or not is irrelevant. Enjoy each day as it comes and be mindful of what you are achieving, as it is something really special.

A few bits you don’t read in the guidebooks:
  • “Surely it’s time for a water break?” Drinking water seems so simple – but when it feels like we were trying to neck down more than an average Friday night things must be getting serious.
  • “This food is manna from heaven” Now whether it is because you have been walking for six hours surviving on a Nile’s worth of water and protein bars, or whether the chefs seem to be undiscovered Michelle Roux’s – one thing was unanimous amongst our group – the food you get on Kili is fantastic!
  • “I haven’t gone in 24 hours” We don’t want to explain what this refers to right now, as this is one experience which will cause you to laugh and cry. Sharing everything with the group, or in this case, perhaps a small group is part and parcel of experiences like this, and we would hate to spoil the surprise! 
Above the clouds
We are both around for all your questions, large or small. Please don’t hesitate to ask. You can contact us via email: reena.mehta@boots.co.uk or justine.farrar@boots.co.uk and we will be only too happy to help. We will try to attend some of your fitness and training events too so you can catch us there!

Keep training, and we’ll see you soon". 

Reena Mehta & Justine Farrar

Friday 5 July 2013

200 days and £92,000!

It's July 2013, the weather is warming up nicely, and sub-zero temperatures on Kilimanjaro seem a long way off.  However, we have recently passed the 200 day mark and the next few months are likely to fly by as our January departure dates loom large.

Our latest fundraising figures show that across both groups, we have already raised £92,000 for Macmillan. Wow!

Our team of Boots UK store colleagues has raised £44K, and the Nottingham group has reached £48K.

Well done everyone. Keep up the fantastic fundraising work.

Neil Jones