LIBRA Supporter Embarks On Machu Picchu Trek

LIBRA supporter Rosie Francklin is set to trek Machu Picchu from 14th to 27th August 2022 as part of a series of 50 amazing challenges to help raise funds.

Rosie is taking part in the three-day, two-night sponsored trek with her daughter Jessica who will turn 30 during the trip. They have been busy preparing for the trip which will take them along the Inca Trail, with two days of trekking through the Amazon jungle.

Rosie, a member of Thanet Lions Club, was initially inspired to support LIBRA following an open day at King’s College Hospital. We recently spoke to Rosie to find out more:

“I attended the LIBRA open day at King’s with fellow Lions Barry Canon and Steve Walden in 2019. We were all so impressed by what we saw and learnt that day. Steve’s wife had received fantastic care and treatment at King’s for blood cancer, but sadly passed away in 2016 after a ten-year battle, so we were spurred on to help others like her.

“It was during the visit that we discovered the Going for Gold campaign. The fundraising leaflet suggested an A to Z of 25 sponsored activities and I was keen to do an abseil. However, Barry didn’t want to stop there – he encouraged us to do a zip wire challenge and more! It was from that moment our fundraising 50 challenge was born.

“Professor Ghulam Mufti, the former Head of Haematology at King’s, heard of our plan and gave us his backing and that provided a real boost. We also took our plan to Thanet Lions Club and set up a LIBRA subcommittee to ensure we could successfully plan our events.

“Unfortunately, Barry was diagnosed with asbestosis in February 2020 and passed away that March – missing out on the zipwire challenge. But he managed to help with our 1st event and together we raffled Easter baskets with the support of businesses, pubs, and golf clubs, raising over £400.

“We are delighted that Lion Mandy Hamilton has joined Steve and me to keep our challenge going. Over the past year we have held several events thanks to the support of our Lions Club. Despite most activities going on pause during lockdown, we have taken part in an O2 climb, paddleboarding, Asda tin shake, Pretty Mudder and much more.

“Most recently Mandy, her husband Sean and I took part in a climb up Mount Snowdon – such an incredible experience. We left for Wales on 18th July with the intention of climbing Snowdon on 19th. However it was nearly 40 degrees that day so we postponed it until Wednesday 20th. It was a sunny day with a gentle breeze.

“It was a challenge as we had not much free time to really train.  It was exhilarating to get to top, although the weather had changed as it does in Wales and it became cold and very windy. It was such a sense of achievement for us all. Especially as Sean’s knees where painful and becoming swollen from Previous Army days.

“Doing this with Mandy and Sean has helped me to prepare for the Machu Picchu trek in August. We are also planning to arrange and enter other fundraising activities such as a colour run, Halloween challenge and of course a zip wire challenge in memory of Barry.”

If you would like to sponsor Rosie to trek Machu Picchu, please visit her online fundraising page here.

 

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