Last Thursday, the day had finally arrived, and Fred was on her way to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Fred packed up her bags and set off to London where she caught the first leg of her Kilimanjaro journey – a flight to Tanzania. It’s been a tough old time leading up to this moment, but Fred has pushed through her training like a pro. From climbing mountain after mountain, to fundraising across The Midlands, she hasn’t stopped.
The whole aim of Fred’s climb is to raise money for the deserving Zoë’s Place, a charity that provides palliative, respite and end of life care to babies and infants aged from birth to 5 years, who are suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. To help Fred achieve her target of raising £4,000, we’ve offered to sponsor her as she makes her way to Kilimanjaro’s summit – she’s even got a special Rawww hoodie on!
We can’t wait for Fred to share all of her stories and photos as she climbs to the top, but until then here’s what she’s got in store over the next 11 days.
Day 1
Following a 4am pick up from Coventry, Fred was driven off to London Heathrow where she hitched a flight to Tanzania.
Day 2
Following her arrival in Tanzania, Fred will be transferred to her hotel in the town of Moshi, where she’ll be able to relax before her big climb in the morning.
Day 3
After a 45 minute drive, Fred will arrive at Machame Gate (the start of the route) to register and meet with her group’s porters. After this, the group will walk through the rainforest for a long 7-8 hours.
Day 4
Following a long day before, Fred will be treated to a shorter 5-6 hour trek, with lunch eaten on a stunning outcrop of rock. This will also be Fred’s first chance of spotting the dramatic peak of Kilimanjaro.
Day 5
As part of her acclimatisation, Fred will be given the opportunity to reach an altitude of 4,500 metres depending on how fit she feels. The Barranco Camp is also said to be the best of the campsites, making it the perfect night for stargazing.
Day 6
Possibly the hardest day yet, Fred will need to conquer the Barranco Wall, a 600-foot rock face. Although not technically difficult, it is extremely steep and will be a tough challenge. After Fred has defeated the Barranco Wall, she’ll be treated to the truly beautiful and breathtaking views of the surrounding jagged peaks.
Day 7
This is when things get chilly! Fred will need to take it slow as she clambers up the icy heights of Kili. With the air getting thinner, and a midnight ascent to the Uhuru Peak (the summit) on the horizon, this promises to be a long day for Fred.
Day 8
As the final part of the ascent begins, Fred will be greeted by a spectacular sunrise of vibrant oranges and reds. Once she’s reached the peak, she’ll be able to descend to Barafu Camp where she can enjoy a quick rest before another 5-6 hours to the Mweka Hut. What a journey!
Day 9
In the morning, Fred will wave goodbye to the lovely guides and porters who helped her through her journey, and she’ll make the final 6 hour descent to the bottom. Once the descent is done, Fred will be transferred back to her hotel in Moshi, where she’ll be able to enjoy a well deserved hot shower and a snooze.
Day 10
The next day, Fred will be driven to the airport where she’ll get on her plane back to London Heathrow.
Day 11
As Fred safely lands back home, we’re sure she’ll only have one thing on her mind: sleep.
We’re totally in awe of what Fred is taking on, and are incredibly proud of what she’s doing for Zoë’s Place. If you are too, make sure you sponsor Fred on her JustGiving page today.
Good luck, Fred!
