Just 18 days to go !!!

MWW - CSR - Backs the Kilimanjaro- Challenge

I'm estatic that MWW , my employer has agreed to support our charity as part of it's Corporate Social Responsibility program and has made the announcement internally to it's workforce via posters and internal monitors. It will also get suppliers to support the challenge.

Qasim & Parve are on Drive Time Radio XL today with Tony - and only 20 Days To Go !!!

My friend and CEO of a local radio station - Arun Bajaj- phoned me late last night for a general chat and to enquire how the preparation and fund raising for the climb was going....

He suggested that I should come on his drive time show today and speak about the adventure... I thought carefully about this, but decided the challenge needed some more PR and fund raising opportunities so I accepted the offer and we agreed to work out the details in the morning.

Today after a quick conversation with Arun I sent over a brief outline of the challenge to Tony their DJ and agreed to meet at the radio station for five. Indy originally said he would come along but as it turned out he had to bail. I got in touch with Qasim and he said he would make it and see me there for five.

I left the office at 4:15 thinking I had plenty of time. But urrrrhm I forgot to factor in that it was Bank Holiday Friday and what should have taken 10 minutes took close to 40.. I got to the station with 5 minutes to spare. Well the good news was that there would be plenty of people in their cars listening to us.

We were hustled into the studio for a quick sound check and a chat to Tony about how the interview would go and we filled in some of the detail about what, how,and why we were doing the climb.

I could see Tony's face lighten up as he realised how adventurous and challenging this really was and he was coming up with some ideas about a follow up interview and reporting from the peak.

He handled the interview perfectly and although nervous I think it all came across on the radio really well. We gave details of the charity, our just giving page for donations and our blog for listeners to follow our journey. Job done... I did my good deed for the charity for the day.

Only 20 days to go.... Work is throwing up left of field events like there is no tomorrow... But I can't weight to start the climb..... Bring it on !!

Yellow Fever - Check !! 24 Days to Go !!

Yesterday, Monday during my lunch break , I popped into the Local MASTA clinic at the allotted time 12 am and reported for my Yellow Fever Jab. I was directed to the nurse's room on the first floor and waited for 10 minutes until the practice nurse came out of her room to get me. She sat me down and carefully explained why I needed the Yellow Fever jab and enquired about my trek. This lovely Irish nurse, late forties was genuinely interested in our adventure and had a friend who had been on it a few years ago. The nurse had a caring, nurturing attitude and the demeanour of a true professional. If I had to have an image of Florence Nightingale , I'm sure the one sitting in front of me was perfect....

Another job ticked of the checklist !!

Asian Voice - Great PR

It was great of star reporter Dee to give our endeavour some coverage in his regular column with Asian Voice - Thanks Dee...

Thank you to all our supporters...

Allan Ho ,Rebecca Green,Manpreet Kaur Sandhu,Sarah Davis,Richard Doidge,Jean Templeton,Rupe Benning,Robin Felton,Steve Goodwin,Suki Kaur,Jayne Mc Gettrick, Mark Webb,Waltraud Sticher,Jonathan Hall,Kevin Smith, Jag Shoker,

MWW Sponsors

I would like to dedicate this post to all of the MWW Suppliers that have made contributions to sponsor the team and of course the Charity. Thank you so much for your support.

Fenn Graphics -Vehicle Graphics ; Simply Recruitment - Recruitment ; John Caldwaller - Trailers
Harry Evans - Tarmac Contractors

Clent Hills - 34 Days to go !!

Jean-Luc emailed last Friday to enquire if anyone was available for a trek across the Clent Hills. Apparently by Sunday only Indy and I had confirmed we wanted to tag along. Indy met me at work at mid-day on Sunday and we hopped into my car and made our way down the Hagley road. Half way there we spotted Jean-Luc in his run around and decided to follow him all the way to the car-park.

It was a sunny day so we travelled light with few base layers and T's and made off up a 35% incline through a lovely wooded area. It wasn't long before we reached the famous "The Four Stones" at the top of Clent Hill

The Clent Hills are also well-known for their role in the legend of St. Kenelm, who was murdered on a hunting trip at the north eastern slopes of Clent Hill in 821 AD. The church of St. Kenelm in the parish of Romsley marks the site of his murder. The church is the starting point of the sixty mile walk St Kenelm's Trail. One source of the River Stour is within the grounds of St. Kenelms church

As we moved on through breathtaking scenery we passed horse riders, fields full of horses and ponies, some fabulous country houses and oceans of bluebells growing wild.

The journey was meant to be about 5.5 miles long ,but urrrhm we kinda lost 1.5 miles and ended up bypassing a whole chunk of forest. Indy and Jean-Luc insist it was the path that lost them... urrrhm well they would wouldn't they, anyway Jean-Luc was navigating using his National Trust guide book and of all the treks we have done this was the first time we have got lost...

We made it back to the car-park for four o'clock and grabbed a bite to eat and a refreshing cuppa at the visitor centre before making our way home.

During the day I noted that Indy still has not had his Yellow fever jab, and some of us still need to buy some of the outdoor wear particularly the waterproofs. Also we really need to get everyone in one place to do another trek, we were'nt really sure how much training each member of the team was getting in... musn'nt forget the 5P rule... Its getting close to departure day and as Jean-Luc noted ( being of French origin) on one of his recent eamils to me that the day we fly out - "18th June 2010 is the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo!!!" ...

It amazes me that I have lived in the region so long and did not realize how much great countryside we have so close to the city...

I got home for five, showered , had a short nap and was out the door again for some Latin studies..lol

Thank you so much to our sponsors and supporters

A huge thanks to some of our sponsors that have made significant pledges to the charity and the Kilimanjaro team..

To Mansells - the main building contractor for William Lench Court for their generous £800 pledge. If you want to learn more about the Lench's trust contract follow their link.

And to Andreas's company LISEGA for a £1000 pledge...

My Company MWW Ltd. has agreed to sponsor the challenge and will match fund everything I raise from our workforce and suppliers - so that's great news...

So things appear to be coming together.

Some of us will have another six mile trek tomorrow around the Clent Hills. I've started my cardio training on the treadmill again. I have my yellow fever jab set up for 25th May ( Wow... a three week lead time for an appointment - good job I got this in). And, the Charity Jazz night looks like it's going to be a sell out ... so all great news really.... I can't wait to get to Tanzania.

Kelly's Heroes win third place !!

Tuesday night was hectic. It was our charity quiz night.

Finish work 5pm, rush home shower, shave. Rush over to the Garden House for a Kilimanjaro Team meeting 6pm - 4 members could not make it. Rush over to a business event I had committed to be at- 7pm, press the flesh and rush back to greet my quiz team at the Garden house for 8pm. Do the quiz, break for dinner ( fabulous ) - take third prize, leave 11pm. In bed 12 pm. Wow!!

I was disappointed that the other team from my workplace did not show - that cost the charity £20 because I had booked the places and we still had to pay for the food. Of the 40 expected places 36 turned up. I named our team after the hit cult movie Kelly's Heroes - an all star cast of tough determined soldiers going behind enemy lines in World War 2 to steal Nazi gold...

It was my first time at a quiz night, but the consensus was that the questions were hard. There were eight rounds of questions ( cut back from 10 at the last minute because we were running out of time ). Topics included - History, Sport, Mountains, Art...... and we could play a joker to double up our points.

Dave was a great quiz master but I couldn't help laughing everytime I looked at his shirt because it looked like a pyjama top, and when I mentioned it to his wife Liz the other day, she confirmed that is what she called it as well...lol

Competition was stiff. And the first prize went to "The Removers" and Kelly's Heroes got third place. I was quite chuffed , this being my first time. Thanks to fellow team members - John Evans, Jonathan Hall, and Selwyn

Let's Jazz things up !!

Our charity Quiz night is almost sold out and it's going to be a fun packed evening. I have never been to a quiz night so it's a first for me - another tick on The Bucket List. I have submitted my own team of four - Jonathan (Solicitor), Selwyn (Headmaster), John - (Logistics Manager at MWW and a band member in his spare time). And there is a team from my workplace MWW, organised by our food technologist - Matt Hill.

Dave Pugh has agreed to be the quiz master on the evening and I'm not sure if he knows what he has let himself in for. I was talking to his wife Liz about his endurance training and she reckons he should be doing more of it, a 10 minute jog every now and then is not really going to cut it...lol.

There are still some places left for next Tuesday so if anyone wants to join us just be there for 8 pm, at "The Garden House", 160 Hagly Road , Birmingham.

Jean-Luc convinced his friend Steve Yenga to get his Afro Jazz Group - Crossroad Collision to put on a Jazz night in aid of charity. It will be held in the evening at the Fusion Bar in the Jewellery Quarter on Tuesday 1st June 2010. It's a fabulous venue, check out their web page.

At £10/head it's very good value and that's with delicious Caribbean snacks served up on the evening.It's a great venue, it's great music, great food and really interesting people so come along and help spread the word. I'm especially looking forward to the food as I have been selling Caribbean food all my life - literally from the age of 8 and never really had the chance to eat it served up correctly.

Done! Done! Done!

Jean-Luc sent me and the team this email today about some of the things we should have already have done. Never one for many words ( until I started this blog that is !!) you can see my curt responses..

From: Jean-Luc Priez [mailto:Jean-LucP@Lenchs-Trust.co.uk]
Sent: 04 May 2010 09:51
To: Andreas Sticher; David Pugh; ilotay@twinbuild.com; Naraine Jimmy; Parveen Mehta; Qasim Majid; Stuart Cusworth
Subject: Checklist
Importance: High

Hi

This is the final countdown as we shall be on our way to Kilimanjaro in 6.5 weeks!

Apart from sponsorship and events…. we must now ensure that we are fit and equipped for the trek. Here is a short checklist which will be complemented as we approach the day:

Fares – I shall pay this week the balance when all individual contributions have been confirmed - Mine paid up

Vaccinations – hope you are all up to date by now! - yellow fever to go - Damn

Insurance – please ensure that you are properly covered. Contact Mark at Worlds Apart if you wish to take on Exodus insurance - DONE!

Boots – you should by now have those and started to make them with good walks – if you have no time for walks, wear them every day at work! - Sorted

Sleeping bag – if you do not have a 3 / 4 seasons sleeping bag, let me know and I shall rent them from Exodus (if so take a lining to sleep in, as you would not know who used them last!) - please rent one - I will take lining sheet.

Warm clothes – you need comfortable clothes for the walk throughout but also warm clothes for the evenings and the final push to the top during the last night.- DONE!

Remember the discount at Millets on Union Street. - OK

Head torch – vital! ask for a good one and take spare batteries with you. - DONE!

Passports – up to date. The visa can be obtained at Kilimanjaro Airport on arrival.- DONE!


Within the next few days I shall also be preparing a checklist for other items such as first aid etc…


Hope you can all make Tuesday’s meeting at 6pm at The Garden House, before the quiz (Stuart’s apologies noted).


See you all soon.

Jean-Luc


Jean-Luc & a team of supporters will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2010 in aid of our capital appeal for William Lench Court. If you wish to help us raise money for this valuable cause please go directly to our JustGiving webpage www.justgiving.com/kiliman-jaro

Follow our journey at http://to-the-summit-kilimanjaro.blogspot.com/


Thank you.