After a few weeks of research and thinking, I have contacted Shelterbox and pre-booked on the Trek to Machu Picchu for April 2009.
I want a challenge, I want to lose some more weight, I want to get fitter and this trip gives my the incentive to do it, spending 4 days hiking across 45km through high attitude mountain regions to one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Its been a year since I started my new lifestyle choice due to a health scare and have lost over 10 stone, but I can’t seem to shift that last couple of stone and this trek means I have to up my training regime to the next level. And if I can help people along the way then that is a fantastic bonus.
Deciding what charity didn’t take long, after the events of the Typhoon in Burma and the Earthquake in China and seeing the boxes arriving on our local news made it an easy decision. Shelterbox helps everybody around the world no matter their region, race, wealth or political views. The money I raise may not help those in need in Burma but you never know where the next natural disaster might happen and who will be affected. I am lucky enough to be in a position to take time away from work and willing to give up my time and money for training and raising money for Shelterbox.
Now the trip is booked and the hard work begins. This challenge isn’t only about getting fit (which is going to be hard work) but raising money for sponsorship (which is going to be a lot harder!) I’ve never done anything like this before, the only sponsored thing I have ever done was an Ice Cream eating contest!
I’ve put together a number of ways to raise sponsorship and a fitness plan.My first money raising idea is to do a sponsored tandem Skydive. I have always wanted to do one of these however have been over the weight allowed to do it. It’s a scary thing to do, but is another challenge I’m able to do following my weight loss. I am planning on doing the skydive at some time during the summer (probably in August). But don’t want to book it under I am half way to my skydive sponsored target.
So now the money plan is in motion, with other ideas to sort out over the next few weeks, I also have my training to get underway with. Since the Teignmouth Lido is just across the street from the café, I am going swimming as much as possible during the next few months to build up my stamina and Cardiovascular. As well as plenty of short walks, luckily for me I am in a beautiful part of the world with plenty of walks nearby including coastal paths, forests and of course Dartmoor.
But for now…its time to knuckle down and get going or jumping!!!
