A few have told me I'm mad to be doing the Kilimanjaro trek, but to be honest the main reaction has been one of great positivity (even the ones who've labeled me insane have been supportive actually!!). Although I fully understand the challenge for what it is, not going through with it is not, and never has been an option. Lucinda very kindly pointed out the dangers and horrors of their expedition and has warned me of the things to do, and not to do and the things to take to make life on the Big Hill a little easier. I, in turn, have tried my best to point these out to the others who are joining me.

This for me has turned into a very personal challenge and my reasons for doing it far outweigh my fears about the dangers and discomforts that inevitably lie ahead. The thin air, the altitude sickness, the fatigue and not least the fact that I will be away from my lovely girls for nearly 2 weeks really only act to spur me on to make the whole thing a resounding success for the charity that has somehow become such an important part of my life!!

It's actually less than 18 months since I met Bob Paxman, the founder of Talking2Minds which was  a 'chance' encounter but one we both knew for some reason was significant. I had invited another military charity, Pilgrim Bandits (mentioned in the previous post) to a rugby match so I could get to know some of the people I was going to jump out of an aeroplane with and Bob was with them as a guest. I didn't get a chance to speak to him at the event and just shook his hand at the end and said something like "sorry mate didn't get to talk today, see you again....." He muttered something equally forgettable but there was something else there and for some reason we both felt we needed to talk again. We did, in London a couple of weeks later.

I remember distinctly walking out of my office saying to myself "I'm really busy and I'm off to meet a bloke called Bob"....I didn't know who he was, what he did, in fact all I knew was he was a big bloke called Bob!! Well we met, and talked. And talked. I told him about my journey through life this far and he told me about his, and it was no time before the bells were ringing and I knew I'd hit on something big. This was potentially a life-changing conversation (as it indeed proved to be).

It was less than a week later I was sitting as an observer on a 'change programme' at Talking2Minds seeing with my own eyes the fantastic work that was being done and the incredible results that I could see unfolding. I knew on that day that this was something I had to be involved in. This was my way to help people who, with training, I could really help. Anyone who knows me will know that, since an early age that I wouldn't like to guess at, I have had my own long and tough battle with alcohol.  That battle went on for many many years and meeting with Bob, at that particular time in my life, was absolutely no coincidence. I don't believe in coincidences anyway. Many of the people who come to Talking2Minds are self medicating on alcohol and/or drugs as their coping mechanism to shut out the traumas, nightmares or flashbacks and now, all of a sudden,  I found myself in a position where I could put the hell I had been through to some good positive use and actually use it to help other people.....what an incredible feeling that was....I was in!!

My motivation therefore couldn't be stronger to beat this Big Hill - it is small compared to the mountains I have climbed to get this far......

Many thanks for reading this blog. If it touches you in any way or you feel you would like to post a comment that would be nice - as I can only see from here that it's been read, not what anyone thinks....and being new to this blog stuff some feedback might help me improve it!!

Anyway, to find out more about the fantastic work we do at Talking2minds please go to ww.talking2minds.co.uk

To support my trek for Talking2Minds please feel free to donate at www.virginmoneygiving.com/BruceMartin66

Thanks again,

Bruce