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Cheryl Barker, from Bowthorpe in Norwich, has suffered
from endometriosis for five years.
This painful condition can start at an early age
and can cause infertility, internal bleeding,
inflammation and scarring.
Cheryl Barker on Mount Kilimanjaro. |
Despite it being a common problem for women, more
research is needed to find out how endometriosis is caused.
So Cheryl, 27, decided to pack her ruck sack and
head for Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of fellow fundraisers.
Her trip to Africa's tallest peak boosted the coffers
of the National Endometriosis Society.
She raised 拢3,000 of the total 拢42,000
which was donated from the group's challenge.
During her visit to Tanzania, she kept a diary
of her epic journey, so read on to find out if she made the summit.
Cheryl's diary
Most of us met at 4.30am at Heathrow airport on 26 February to check
in for our flight to Amsterdam where we were to meet the last two
people of our group.
There was a real buzz in the air as we met some
people for the first time and greeted the friends we had made from
the training weekends in Derbyshire.
From Amsterdam we flew to Kilimanjaro airport.
We were driven to the hotel, which took about an
hour, and were shown to our rooms. All we
were able to do was collapse into bed.
The next morning we were introduced to our guides.
Tour guides
They were a very friendly, happy bunch, who seemed
almost as excited as us to be there.
With the introductions taken care of, we put our
best feet forward and took our first steps through the gate and
into the rainforest.
There were more people there than we expected.
There were children begging for money and chocolate,
and adults - who were either going up and down for firewood and
cattle feed - or trying to sell us T-shirts and hats.
All the way through the forest we could hear the
river that ran close to the path and the birds singing in the trees.
Monsoon hits
It took us a couple of hours to reach the picnic
site and when we got there it started to rain.
It wasn't the the kind of rain we get here in England
- it felt as if someone had picked up the ocean and dropped it on
our heads!
Next day
Up again at 6.30am. It鈥檚 hard to sleep in the same
room as 14 other people and everyone is trying to get to the toilet!
None of us wanted to be up that early but everyone
was caught up in the excitement of being there and surviving the
first day.
With our bags packed, we hit the breakfast tables
and ate porridge with toast, eggs, sausages and fruit.
Breathtaking sight
We carried on our walk... as we came out of the
rainforest, we rounded a corner, and there, right in front of us,
was what we had come to climb, the peak of Kilimanjaro.
It was absolutely breathtaking to see. Looking
at pictures doesn鈥檛 prepare you for seeing it in front of you.
Zebra Rock
The next day we got our stuff together for a short
walk to Zebra Rock.
We walked through the fields to the rock, which
is stunning, and then we climbed to the top of it.
From here we could see the path we would take across
the desert, which is called The Saddle, the Kibo huts and also the
path we would climb to reach Gilman鈥檚 Point and the summit!
The climb had been well worth it - the view was
amazing.
New day
6.30am and again everyone is up, and we鈥檙e on our
way! As we leave camp, we have to walk up
a huge hill.
We can see for miles around, there are birds and
butterflies all over the place, not to mention these caterpillars
with spiky hairdos and wonderful colourings.
Once we get over the top of the hill, we are walking
across The Saddle.
Collapse at camp
After a couple of hours
and a couple of resting periods, I know I鈥檓 in trouble. It鈥檚 all
I can do to keep my feet moving.
My head is absolutely killing me, and I鈥檓 desperately
trying not to show it. I don鈥檛 want to get sent down now I鈥檝e got
this far.
I collapsed as we were entering the camp and had
to be carried in by one of the guides.
The next day I was told I could climb with everyone
else, but was under strict instructions to tell people if I felt
anything wasn鈥檛 right.
Tea stop
The moon was high and bright, we didn鈥檛 need to
use our head torches.
Everyone was in high spirits as we climbed. We
reached the Hans Meyer caves and stopped for tea. The porters had
brought flasks with them, which we all thought was great.
After a little while we were on the move again.
Considering we were almost at the top of a mountain, it was really
busy.
Most of the group had tried for the summit, but
only about four of them made it.
It was good to know everyone had reached Gilman鈥檚
Point. I was told I collapsed just underneath the boulder you have
to climb over to reach it.
Everyone was really happy that they鈥檇 made it as
to the top.
I was given lots of hugs as I was, and still am
upset that I didn鈥檛 get to where I wanted to be, the top of Kilimanjaro.
Heading back
The climb was now over and it was time to head
back home.
The tour guides pose for a picture on Zebra Rock. |
We were greeted at the gate by the same man from
the tour company who had met us at the airport, only this time he
greeted us with champagne!
This was shared between the guides and us. They
did a fantastic job of looking after us.
They had helped to carry our packs when we were
too tired or ill, had helped to do up our boot laces and gaiters,
and helped take them off again.
They told us about the plants and wildlife on the
mountain, and they always knew where you were and how high as well!
We had to sign the register again to say how far
we had got and to prove we had made it back down again.
Then I had to say goodbye to some good friends
that shall never be forgotten.
We will all meet again on the next challenge for
the society.
听
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