The Raising Hope Foundation - The reason behind the challenge

In 2007 I travelled to Ghana in West Africa on my own. I had a one month long teaching placement in a school on the outskirts of the capital city, Accra. I returned to England four months later. I fell in love with the country, the people, the music, the way of life - with everything that Ghana is.

I started University in October 2007 and met some amazing people who had just set up a charity working with orphaned and needy children in Ghana. I am proud to say that I was part of the Raising Hope Foundation's first official charity trip to Ghana in 2009 and I've been part of it ever since.

The Raising Hope Foundation team have become my family and the work we do is a huge part of my life - I wouldn't change that for anything.

Every year we go to Ghana to work with the children of Santrokofi and Sogakope and we are currently working on a orphanage in Santrokfi. Whilst at home in the UK we focus on fundraising and raising awareness of the charity, whilst in Ghana we run a summer school for the local children and spend time really getting to know the local people.

As a charity we have organised and taken part in a number of different fundraising activities from skydiving to sponsored runs/triathlons and quiz nights to cycling across Europe.

Following a very inspirational speech from the guys who cycled from London to Istanbul last year I promised myself that I would work towards something bigger than a 10k run - let's just say I got sidetracked! At the last annual dinner the same brilliant guys announced that this year they would be setting off on a new adventure - Arctic to Africa. It does what it says on the tin really! That was the point that I realised I really needed to stop procrastinating and do something.

So, one Saturday afternoon, after spending hours on the internet, I made my mind up - I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Obviously I can't just pack my bag and go now (those of you who know me will know that I am not that fit at all!) so I've made this an 18 month (ish) challenge.

Over the next 18 months I will be taking part in various short/middle distance runs - starting in July when I will be taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge with the other Raising Hope guys, following that I will be aiming to do one sponsored run every month until October next year (exact date to be confirmed) when I will be tackling Mount Kilimanjaro.

So, if you want to track my progress, raise awareness for the charity, sponsor me or just watch a slightly chubby girl in her mid-twenties try to get fit, please stay tuned!