New Sponsor GE Australia&New Zealand

A big thank you to David Read Vice President Strategic Sourcing and Facilities at GE Australia & New Zealand for GE's generous support for Amnesty International Australia's important and worthwhile charity defending and protecting Human Rights.  

Thanks so much once again for your sponsorship and encouragement.

Training for Mt Kilimanjaro fundraising climb in Aug 2012 - Main Range Track , Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, 2012

Training for Mt Kilimanjaro fundraising climb in Aug 2012 - Main Ridge Track , Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, 2012, a photo by Martins images on Flickr.

Main Ridge Track saddle between Charlotte Pass and Mt Carruthers. Whilst the day was sunny the wind was howling over the saddle but the view is spectacular -the area directly behind my is the Lady Northcote Canyon on the Abbott Range with Lttle Austria peak to the left and The Sentinel to the right.

Roof of Australia -next the roof of Africa!

Training for Mt Kilimanjaro fundraising climb in Aug 2012 at summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, 2012, a photo by Martins images on Flickr.

Training for Mt Kilimanjaro fundraising climb in Aug 2012 at summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, 2012. Just completed three days of hiking - (1) Kosciuszko summit at 2228 mts from Threadbo village (18 kms and the first 5 kms very steep and all steps),
(2) Threadbo to Dead Horse Gap along the beautiful Threadbo river about 12 kms and
(3) Charlotte Pass along Main Range Track via Blue lake (Australia's highest glacial lake) including crossing the Snowy River about 12 kms. Great weather and location -all the time carrying pack of about 10-12 kgs to replicate what I maight be carrying at Kili.  206 days to go.

225 days to go

In addition to walking around the local area, today I went to the Kokoda Memorial Trail (1000 steps) at the base of Mount Dandenong.  The 1000 steps path as the name suggests has lots of steps and is steep in parts and apparently 1.8 kms in length from the carpark to the top.   I had a training partner in the form of Liam back from ADF duties and happily setting the pace -one thing he may have forgot...make that two things - he is much younger than I and he also didn't have a laden backpack!!!  Nonetheless it was a pleasant weather day which was conducive to us completing two circuits up the 'steps' and return.   The exercise in every sense of the word was most beneficial to test out the equipment and I look forward to completing many more ' steps climbs' before the big one in August next year.

239 Days to go

The training continues with bike riding and walking. I have also found 8 flights of stairs at work which will come in handy -gave them the once over last week and a few trips up and down certainly gets the blood pumping!

I must have some sort of in built rain attractor ....went for another long walk Saturday week ago in one of the heaviest and consistent down pours this year....was completely drenched as were the dogs but quite fun in a twisted sort of way!!

Have also added a backpack to the training routine -back pack containing bits and bobs weighing in at about 10 Kilograms!!!  Not a lot of fun so far but I am reliable advised it gets easier??? 

254 days to go

The training continues with lots of walking and bike riding.  I have started twice weekly 0600 starts for bike rides with some colleagues to ride  from the city out to the Boulevard in Kew and back, for a quick 35 kms before work –beautiful time of the morning once you get over the shock of the 0515 early rise!

Walked for 2 hours with the dogs yesterday morning in the rain and thunderstorm –got thoroughly soaked but luckily it was warm.   Donations continue to come in and more pledges for support.   Likewise I have received a number of sponsorship contributions which is most welcome and pleasing.  I will be attaching a ‘sponsors’ section to the blog (once I work out how?)

Training continues

Two weeks since my last post –have been putting plenty of ‘Ks’ into my legs – cycling and plenty of walking around the local area.  Clocked up 50 kms in the bike yesterday + plus 6 km walk with the girls and dogs.

In the background I have been lobbying potential sponsors and donors with positives pledges to be forthcoming soon.  Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.

Have also got into DIY advertising?   Making computer generated iron on shirt transfers, which have been applied to a number of shirts for my team and me to sell the message as I walk/cycle.        Have made business cards and flyers too and constructed a media release which should be forwarded to local newspaper shortly. 

Only 261 days to go ?