Getting nervous...

With under 6 weeks to go... the nerves are very much kicking it.

But I have all my lovely gear to console me. I freaking love buying new stuff. I already have a 60L+10 Vango Backpack, (which I adore) and will be perfect for the climb. I modified my 20L day pack last night, it had a thingy for your earphones, but I ripped that out and made the hole a tad bigger so I can fit a platypus hydration tube through. It encourages you to sip water all day, rather than big gulps every now and then.
Then I have my amazing boots, all I need for those are some extra socks.

I was looking up all those snazzy North Face and other branded summit jackets and pants, and I nearly fell over looking at the prices of them, like if I was to kit myself out in the branded gear, it honestly would not stop at 700euro... and that's just a jacket and pants... nothing else :-/

My wonderful Aussie bootcamp buddy, Kimmy, had sent me photos of her and her husbands Kili climb and I quizzed her on it, and then it occurred to me... I have a full set of Ski gear. So I asked her about it, and she told me she did the whole climb in her ski gear! I was so happy when I heard that, cause I was genuinely worried I would have to shell out some serious dosh for the summit gear! So I'll be wearing my ski pants and jacket on the summit, and some thermals and under layers and I'm sorted!

Im trying to get in a few long walks to help break-in my boots, it'll help avoid the life threatening... blister!! dun dun dun!

I have a list in my diary of all the gear that I do need, and I get such satisfaction when I get to check each one off... my purse, however, is not enjoying that part! But they print new money everyday, can't print memories like these :)

I'll stick up another post with pictures of some of my gear and my tricked out day pack when I pick up my platypus!

Vintage Day at Rigney's Farm

To help raise funds for my Kilimanjaro charity climb, we planned and ran a Vintage Tractor and Car run at our farm on June 10. My Dad is a huge vintage tractor fan, and both Himself and Myself are members of the West Limerick Vintage Club and I drive a 1986 Austin Mini. It was a perfect and very unique idea. The Vintage Club has done numerous Charity Events helping local charities since they were established in 2008.

So much background work from my Dad made this day happen. He spent hours planning routes for the tractors, checking them, and driving them, and not to mention all the work that he did on the day!! So without My Dad this could never have happened!

It was a very early start on Sunday June 10. Sun was up all day, which made a huge difference. We were all up very late the previous night, mowing the lawns, getting the yard tidy and organising places for the tractors and cars to park.
I had my registration table set up, for the drivers to sign in and pay their registration fee. Once they paid, they got a special commemorative badge which was magnetic to stick to their vehicle and headed over for a hot cup of tea, fresh handmade scones and apple tart, made by my hard working mother and Anne Drew.

The tractors drove out the driveway around noon and headed off on their scenic route totaling 13kms! That's a long drive if you are a tractor! The cars headed off on a longer route along the Coast Road and returned at almost the same time as the tractors

When the drivers all arrived back, they parked up their Mean Machiens and headed over the to the BBQ to get their reward, a delicious Rigney's Farm hot dog, made with a free range rare breed pork sausage, onions, organic salad and a choice of relish, mustard or ketchup on a fresh hot dog bun. 

Rizwan and Rachel were manning the BBQ and an amazing job they did too. 

We had great reports from the day, people said they really enjoyed themselves. Imen McDonnell from the Irish Farmers Journal paid us an unexpected visit and wrote a wonderful article about her visit on the day and her delight at seeing all the animals on the farm. Read her article here.

In total we raised €1,560!!! It was a huge total and only through the help and hard work of so many wonderful people did it happen. 

So thank you all!! 

Planning the Vintage Run

So it's very busy here at Rigney's Farm getting the Fundraiser Day off the ground.
With my hard working Mother and tractor loving Father, we've planned a Vintage Car and Tractor Run to help raise funds. The run will leave from our farm and the cars will take a long leisurely route along the Coast Road and the tractors will take a shorter scenic route with tractors and cars returning to Rigney's Farm at the same time.
After a "tough" afternoon driving through beautiful West Limerick, all our drivers will get some delicious refreshments from Rigney's Farm produce and a nice cup of tea.

Spread the word to all your friends and family. It'll be a great day out in aid of very worthy causes!

If you need anymore info, email me or contact Joe on 0872599168

Camaderry Training Day

So we had the final official (and my first) Kilimanjaro training day. It all took place on a section of Camaderry Mountain in Glendalough Co. Wicklow. 

For now I have no motor, so I was stressing about how I would get to Camaderry, but I managed to get a life with two people in my group, so I was delighted! 

We got there and met the others doing the training session and Ian McKeever. The challenge was so climb the section of Camaderry 8 times in the 4 hours. Not as easy as it sounds. I managed to get in 4 climbs. I was tough going up, but the down section was not easy, lots of steep and slippy sections. But my awesome new boots paid off! I fell once, which is a serious achievement for me! No injuries, only a few cuts and scrapes. I have a great marker on the training scale, so it's onwards and upwards from here. Hopefully soon, I'll be planning a day on Carrantoohill in Co. Kerry

This photo is at the top of the section, amazing views. The weather was due to be really bad with lots of rain, but fortunately for us it held out, clear skies and some nice spells of sun. 

Once 6.30 came around we got changed into clean clothes and headed to Lynhams Hotel for dinner and talks for the trip.

Ian presented a talk on health and safety on the mountain and then Maura gave us a personality assessment, turns out I'm a Golden Retriever.

It was a long road home, and bed was the best medicine. 

New Boots!

After trying three different shops in Limerick, (and almost fainting at some of the prices) I finally found an amazing pair of boots. Salomon Comet 3D GTX.


Got great help and advice from the crew at Radar Stores in Foxes Bow in Limerick City today
I love my new boots, so comfortable. Going for a few regular walks in them to break them in. We have a training weekend on Sunday climbing Camaderry Mountain in Wicklow. I'll have lots of photos and a new blog post on Monday :)

Vaccinations

Had three of my jabs done in TMB in Limerick! So quick, and genuinely pain free. I actually couldn't believe it. Going back at the end of the month to get a few more! Visit Tropical Medical Bureau for more info.

Wednesday evening my arm got pretty sore around where the needle went in, but on Thursday, I was really dizzy and weak after it, so I was taking lots of little breaks. But it was all pretty much gone on Friday :)

Driving up the fundraising train now! And I'm sticking to the training, despite a weekend away at a Festival :D

Next steps

Paid the deposit on my flights to Kilimanjaro Airport this afternoon! It's all happening!
All my blood work is done and it's all fine.

On Wednesday, I'll be heading into the Tropical Medical Bureau in Limerick with my Mother (still need her to hold my hand) to get my first lot of Vaccines.
We're both getting our make up done after as a reward ;-)

I'm busy planning lots of fundraising ideas and working on my fitness plan for the climb. I'll be posting all my training on my blog, so stay tuned! (fingers crossed for good weather!!)

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

To continue of from my big adventure to Australia last year, I've been accepted to climb to the roof of Africa. Yes people, I'm gonna climb Kilimanjaro! And I can't wait!

It's all happening, had blood testing done on Thursday (April 19) to check for important markers like iron levels and white blood cells. And since this morning, I've booked an appointment to get all my jabs! Yellow Fever, Tetanus, Hep A and B, so that should be wonderful! Joke! 

I'll be raising funds for Chernobyl Children International, a foundation set up by Adi Roche in 1991. Since it's beginning, they've brought 91 million euro worth of aid to the radiation zones around Chernobyl, and brought over 22,000 sick children to rest and recuperate in Ireland.

With the funds raised from the climb in August this year, they will be able to provide 50 life saving cardiac operations! 

Money will also be raised to help Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. It's a most deserving cause, so with your sponsorship, it will help provide funding for it's Intensive Care Unit. It's Ireland's largest pediatric hospital, and it's also the national centre for cardiac surgery and medical research for childhood illnesses.

Any support and sponsorship you can give will go a long way to helping these really important charities.

I'll be keeping this blog updated with all my training for the climb!

Check out Chernobyl Children International for more information on all their great work, and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin