With just two weeks left until our intrepid explorers set off on the trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro, we caught up with Nikki Barnett who was one of the first people to sign up for the challenge.
Nikki and her daughter Leanne decided to take on the challenge in memory of Nikki’s sister Jill Willstrop and Leanne’s nan Nada Cope who died in the care of Myton’s Coventry and Warwick Inpatient Units respectively.
The fundraising...
They have been working hard to keep their fundraising efforts going strong and decided when they signed up to the challenge to self-fund the trip so that every penny they raise can be used to help keep Myton’s free services running. So far they have raised in excess of £9,000.
In order to recoup some of the cost of the trip, the pair entered a TV gameshow! Nikki and Leanne won themselves £2,500 on Channel 4’s latest gameshow ‘Cheap, Cheap, Cheap’ which is hosted by Noel Edmunds. Contestants are presented with three similar items and must identify the cheapest one of the three in order to win money.
Nikki said: “Going on the TV show was something out of the box! We could have gone onto the next round to try and win £5,000 but we didn’t want to lose the money we had already earned so played it safe. We had great fun.”
The training...
Training for Nikki and Leanne has involved taking on Snowdon and the Three Peaks to make sure their boots are well worn in ahead of the climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro: “The excitement and nerves have kicked in now. It’s out of my comfort zone but I’m on a mission! We’re eternally grateful for the care Myton provided. If we could raise £10,000 that would be the icing on the cake.
I did the Glow in the Moonlight event and after we got an email for Kilimanjaro. I didn’t even know where it was but decided I wanted to do it! I really want to break the stigma that Myton is just somewhere people go to die – they have support for patients and their families from the minute they’re diagnosed. People never know when they’re going to need Myton.”
Their journey begins on 23rd September!
Feelng inspired?
If you would like to find out more about fundraising for The Myton Hospices, please click here.