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ALASKA
In June 2000 I took on on a huge
personal challenge, for me, in aid of SENSE The National Deafblind and
Rubella Association (founded in 1955,) which gives help and support to
people who are both deaf and blind. There are over 23,000 people in the
UK affected. Some are born with the disability, ( often due to rubella
in pregnancy) some develop it as older people. SENSE charity gives
support to them and their families and helps those affected to live as
independently as possible. SENSE also helps deaf/blind people living
overseas such as India, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America, where
this is a major problem
My challenge was to take part in the
trek in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska. This involved: ice
climbing, bush whacking and ford crossing, glacier exploration and
travel through bear country, through one of the last wildernesses in the
world. We walked for about 8 hours each day for a 8 days and camped for
8 nights. (With no mod. cons. at all) I carried all my food supplies for
a week, on my back. This weighed about 20kg. When I applied to go on the
trek it would have been impossible for me to lift such a weight! However
I have filled a rucksack with books and began to train for this event! I
trained by walking regularly on the cliffs of Cornwall carrying my
backpack with increasing loads, followed by Yoga stretches. Having a
Life Coach helped me to do this and achieve the challenge of
fund-raising too. I only dreamt of doing something like this before. I
was 56, then, not overwhelmingly fit and preferred hotels with en suite
bathrooms, to tents and trenches...and having to burn my toilet paper
after use with waterproof matches! For the Alaskan Challenge I had to
raise over £2000 in donations. These challenges are a major source of
funds for SENSE and also provide a raised awareness of the charity and
the fantastic role they play in improving the life of so many people
affected by this unimaginable double disability. Last year over a
million pounds was raised for SENSE in this way.
Contact me Susan E.
Kersley to arrange a coaching session
coach@youcanchangeyourlife.co.uk
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