So the challenge begins - aghhh

Today, I set off to London ready to fly to Beijing tomorrow, wow this has come around so fast.

If I am not ready now it is too late so I am where I am.

Packing done!

The bag is packed, I had to get a new bag as the one I was going to use was too small for clothes once I had packed my gluten free protein bars and snacks. The new Highlander one can only be described as a container that should be on a ship as some kind of rescue device. Made of a red/orange rubber/plastic material it is certainly hardwearing and I will be seen coming (if I have not already been heard).

Fundraising not changed that much which is a shame but every little helps and what I do raise is more than Derian House already has. I am very grateful to everyone who has donated, it really is appreciated.

This last week

It has not really sunk in yet just what I am doing. This week has been a normal very busy week at work and last weekend my son moved into his first home so up until just now and packing not really read anything about the journey. I know when I fly and that it is 13.5 hours and 10,000 steps to climb and 75km to walk but as for anything else no idea. 

I have never been away for this long on my own so that will be interesting. It turns out just 10 of us going and my roomie seems a good laugh (the benefits of whats app) so fingers crossed. 

My first and possibly only charity challenge beckons

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LisaSpann

1 week to go!

Well, this has come around rather quickly. This time next week I will be in London the night before the flight to Beijing. My view is if I am not ready now nothing will make a difference in the coming week.

In the last 3 weeks I attempted to climb Gros Piton in St Lucia but the heat got the better of me and last weekend tried Snowdon for the 2nd time (the Llanberis path). This time didn't even get beyond the initial path due to snow. So we took the train to see how bad it was, the pictures show the snow but the raining ice was something else. It hurt!

Packed (kind of)

I packed the bag this week, full of fulfil protein bars, nature creative bars, naked blueberry bars, pro2go baked crisps, nuts, banana pieces and snacks, not too sure where the clothes are going at this stage. Looking for a new bigger bag :)

Fundraising for Derian House

Still on going and not where I want it to be with 7 days to go still looking for £4,000 plus gift aid (total £5,000 for Derian House). Currently £3,590 inc gift aid.
 

All donations greatly appreciated

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LisaSpann  

Just 3 weeks left before the challenge

So 3 weeks today and about now I will be boarding a plane for China. Amazing how quickly 300 days fly by, I am sure it was only a few weeks ago I signed up for this... 😱

Fitness training for the challenge

Well it is still happening, I am happyish with legs they have managed to handle what I have thrown at them, whether that is anything close to enough I shall know in 4 weeks. This week I attempted to climb the Gross Piton in St Lucia, got half way and called it. The heat and the size of the volcanic boulders to climb over where not what I expected at all. The legs and heart rate coped though which is encouraging and thankfully the Great Wall of China has steps that my short legs will be able to get up.

Awareness of the trip 

The local newspaper, the LEP did a great article on my trip and Derian House. Shame it didn't generate any donations though. 😞

Also, Totally Wicked will be featuring my trip in their next vaping magazine, so you never know.

Fundraising update

As I have said before this is much harder than I ever thought it would be. In addition to general donations, I am arranging a dress down day at work and a race night for when I get back to help raise funds. I thought I knew enough people that would make this quite easy with small sums, how wrong was I.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LisaSpann