Date: 30/06/2010
Location: Kilimanjaro
The Sparkle Appeal is organising a trek to Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro Summit Climb - Lemosho route
Twelve brave and daring individuals have signed up and risen to the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise much needed funds to help the special children of South Gwent to shine.
The trek kickstarts in the rainforests of Lemosho Glades then heads upwards as trekkers acclimatise on Shira Plateau. From this spot the ultimate goal will shimmer in sight, as climbers shall catch a golden glimpse of their ultimate goal - Kibo, Kilimanjaro's main ice-capped peak.
The trip is set to take place in sunny June and the climbing party will trek together, through glades and valleys alike, all in aid of The Sparkle Appeal and its mission to provide a fully-equiped purpose built centre designed to meet the needs of over 1200 children with complex diasbilities in the South Gwent area.
The Sparkle Appeal's charity challengers have been highly imaginative over the past few months coming up with incredibly inventive ideas which have captured the hearts and minds of the generous public to donate and will these daring climbers on in their trek. Such fundraising efforts have ranged from endless bag-packing to psychic nights, countless parties, adventurous pub crawls and holding jumble sales.
Our climbers may be pushing themselves to new limits of physical exertion, but in doing so, this daring dozen are pushing The Sparkle Appeal up to new limits too. With the thousands of pounds raised, The Sparkle Appeal can fulfil their goal of offering treatment, care, information, leisure facilities and consultations all under one roof for the children of South Gwent.
The Sparkle Appeal are still actively recruiting trekkers who would be willing to take on the most gruelling, but sure to be fun-packed challenge of 2010 on a self-funding basis.
The expedition costs £2,583.00 in total,
which is broken down as follows: £695.00 + £1, 888.00.
If you are interested and think you would relish a trek where you come into contact with some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and bewildering wildlife, while putting the 'fun' into fundraising at the same time, please contact: faith@sparkleappeal.co.uk for more information.
Now meet the climbers who are recruited in the Sparkle expedition team so far...
caroline bird
martin gerrard
I am both a Trustee and the Treasurer of the charity, and have been so since its inception. It is therefore a cause with which I am very familiar and, almost 10 years later, remain totally committed to its success.
When our fundraisers first proposed this venture, I felt the need to ‘lead by example’ and volunteered immediately. I thereby pledged to undertake the type of adventure I had always wanted to embark on, but never got around to arranging. For me it was a case of now or never !
By day I work as an accountant for the Local Health Board. All my spare time seems to be taken-up either training for the climb, or sourcing the vast array of ‘kit’ we need to undertake the challenge – a logistical nightmare considering the range of climatic zones to be encountered (from tropical rainforest to snow and ice) !
We are to be guided by the same company that took the Comic Relief group to the top, and will be away for twelve days in all. Not only will I be one of the (recently labelled) Daring Dozen undertaking the challenge, but the equal oldest ! To reach the goal of the summit (the Uhuru ice-capped peak) would obviously be both a significant personal achievement and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As a Newport boy, born and bred, I am proud to play a very small part in the provision of this centre for local children and their families who need its facilities so desperately. Hopefully the knowledge of boosting such a worthwhile cause will help me during the inevitably difficult times during the 5,895m ascent.
As I undertake this venture voluntarily, I believe it only right that I self-finance the entire cost of the trip. Consequently, I can guarantee that every penny I raise will go directly to the Sparkle Appeal.
Martin's Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Martin-Gerrard
ELLEN GILBERT
LEAH GIVVONS
I am a 26-year-old student children's nurse. I am also the eldest of seven children and my youngest sister, Darcie who is two years old has Downs Syndrome. Darcie has changed my life so much, she is the best thing that has ever happened to my whole family; we are all so proud of her.
Throughout her life she will have access to many facilities, including the new Sparkle Centre, so I have decided it is up to me to give something back, in a way she may never be able to. I have decided I will undertake the challenge of a lifetime and join the team and climb Kilimanjaro, my aim is to raise £5000 for the charity.
Leah's Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/leah-givvons
FAITH HUSBAND
PAUL JONES
SAM O'SULLIVAN
CATHERINE PRITCHARD
BEN PRITCHARD-JONES
I am Ben; I am taking part in the Kilimanjaro climb in aid of the Sparkle Appeal in 2010. I got involved with Sparkle through posters advertising the trek in my work canteen. I saw the call for volunteers and fundraisers and was guided by my sense of adventure to find out more. At the time I was looking for a personal challenge and the prospect of climbing Kili certainly fit that.
After meeting with Sparkle representatives and embarking on the epic fundraising mission my motivation not only to complete the challenge this summer climbing Kilimanjaro, but also to fundraise as much as possible in the process for such an outstanding local cause has evolved.
After spending time at Sparkle events, meeting with those involved on all sides of the charity; the children, parents, relatives and fellow fundraisers, it really has brought home to me the need for the facilities and services that the Sparkle Appeal is aiming to provide in Gwent. I am glad that my input can help everyone involved take another step forward towards the end goal of a fully operating centre to help all local disabled children and their families.
This climb has become so much more to me than a personal challenge, I now feel like our team are forging the way for those children requiring help and support not only for the families in need today but helping create a facility that will benefit future generations also. This will be a once in a lifetime experience but when the climb is over I know I will continue to take pride in what our efforts help bring to the Sparkle Appeal for years to come.
So far I have raised over £3500 towards my target of £5000. Please follow my progress at www.justgiving.com/benpritchardjones and please feel free to make a donation to support the Sparkle Appeal Climb of Kilimanjaro 2010.
GILL WATKINS
I am 51 years old and work as Departmental Manager/Sister on the Fracture & Orthopaedic Department at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.
In May 2009 I took part in the London Moonwalk which is a 26 mile walk at night through the sreets of London in aid of Breast Cancer. It was a massive event sponsored by Playtex with approx 18,000 women taking part. The fulfillment I found in completing this and raising money for such a good cause inspired me to look for a bigger challenge and shortly after the Moonwalk I opened The South Wales Argus one day to see the article which mentioned Faith appealing for 20 people from Gwent to climb Kilimanjaro for The Sparkle Appeal, each raising a potential £4,200 which would generate a huge amount for the appeal.
I was filled with excitement and rang Faith to find out more, here was a chance to do something in life that so many people say they would like to do, but never actually do it! After attending the meeting to find out more, I decided to go for it - you only live once as they say!
I felt that although this would obviously be a personal achievement for me, I also liked the fact that it was going to benefit a local charity, something that we will actually see come to fruition and also my work in the department brings me into contact with some of the disabled children who currently seek health services at Eveswell and will benefit from the new centre as they attend our Paediatric clinic with associated Orthopaedic conditions.
I started last July with fundraising kicking off with a barbeque at home, which all our friends paid to come to. I have had tremendous support from friends, my staff, medical colleagues, patients and companies that I deal with, so I have found it relatively easy to achieve and exceed my fundraising target. However, you have to be tenacious in your pursuit of support and this is one of my strengths.
I have enjoyed the preparation for the climb and getting to know 11 other people in the process who all have the same hopes and aspirations to climb this mountain successfully and raise a lot of money for such a good cause. I am sure when we return we will know even more about each other, warts and all, as they say.
I am excited now as the date draws near, but know I will be slightly nervous when the time comes and can hardly believe that I will go to this place that so many just see in a picture or on television.
Sparkle is something which I now feel I will always be a part of and in the future I hope I will have another adventure that may also benefit this charity.
Gill's Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Gillian-Watkinskilimanjaro
CARL WINTERS
Contact Details
Contact: Sparkle Office
Phone: 01633 748092
E-mail: info@sparkleappeal.co.uk