Camilla - Borneo Jungle Challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK!

In Camilla's own words...
Yes, believe it or not the above is not a typing error – I really am going on a jungle challenge.  For those of you who know me this may not come as any surprise due to the other various mad things I have done i.e. jumping out of planes at 10,000 feet in Cuba, bungie jumping from crazy heights in Jamaica, running the London Marathon four times and such like.
 
WHY you may ask.  Well besides liking a challenge this is for CHARITY - CANCER RESEARCH UK.
 
Please take 5 minutes of your time to read on and sponsor me.  My trip is totally self-funded so all donations will go direct to Cancer Research UK.  In some way or another many of us know someone who has been affected by Cancer, by sponsoring me you will be giving something towards helping others and towards the all important work which remains to be done to beat cancer.  Thank you!


Click here to sponsor Camilla via JustGiving for Cancer Research UK.

CAMILLA'S FULL STORY...

Cancer has opened my eyes to life, made me a stronger person and deepened my understanding of what “cancer” really is. It has opened my eyes to the many people surrounding me, and to the depth of which people care.   Having cared for and lost someone very dear to me 5 years ago I do now realise how precious life is and why we should live each day as if it’s our last!

Because of our personal loss and wanting to “give something back” I completely changed my career.  I set up my own business - a Salon and Spa - pampering people and also I trained as a paramedical micropigmentation technician.  (See more details on www.tranquilitybeauty.co.uk).   What that actually means is that I can provide semi-permanent makeup to those who have lost their eyebrow hair through chemotherapy or for those who have undergone reconstructive breast surgery – aerola tattooing. This technique also provides scar cameoflage i.e. for cleft palates, injury, burns etc.  All this helps patients not only physically but emotionally, helping them to build their self-esteem and confidence.  I can't tell you how great it is to see those people's faces when I have completed their treatment.

For this reason I will be doing the Borneo Jungle Challenge – to raise as much money as I can for that all important research to help find a “cure” for Cancer.

THE CHALLENGE !!
This jungle challenge will take me from sea level to the highest point in South East Asia – Mount Kinabalu, at 4,101m. For the first 4-5 days I will trek over undulating ground through an area with one of the richest flora in the world, along river valleys (some rivers needing wading across), crossing rickety bamboo bridges, through rich lowland rainforest, dense jungle, self sufficient villages, paddy fields, pineapple and rubber plantations to reach the trail for the summit of Mount Kinabalu. We will be exposed to jungle temperatures of 35 degrees and 90% humidity, culminating in mountain summit temperatures of approaching freezing.

The ascent to the top of Mount Kinabalu is taken over 2 days due to the change in altitude. The first day sees one trekking up to the rest house at 3300 metres. The climb is slow and steep, but gives me time to take in the stunning scenery and breathe!  I will never moan about the humidity again!  Early the next morning, around 2am the climb to the summit begins to reach the top in time to be able to see the sunrise over the Sabah jungle.  Amazing.   Because of the altitude, it is a slow and tiring walk along the granite slabs to the summit. This will be a particularly demanding and challenging trek for me, as I am SCARED OF HEIGHTS!!

Next …white water rafting for three hours down the Kiulu river to the Traverse Adventure Centre, if having not capsized, for a well deserved BBQ.

Amongst all of the above we will be caving and venturing into some of the world’s largest adventure-caving through the long tunnels of Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave where the warren of pathways open out into vast caverns. The full day's caving is only for those deemed to be sufficiently fit and agile.  Please God let the last 6 months of daily gym visits be worth it!  Thank you to Nicole at Beef's Gym for all training and encouragement (slave driver!)

Jungle Trekking & Rafting
We journey on foot through dense jungle terrain and ascend Mount Api to a viewpoint to see the 'Pinnacles' - a vast sea of razor-sharp limestone teeth that protrude high above the forest canopy. Next we join the ancient Headhunter's Trail to Mentawai from where we board rafts to float down the Terikan River.  The insurance did mention that we were covered for loss of limb!  Cheery thought. 

We will be privileged to stay in a traditional Iban longhouse. Built on stilts, the longhouse is approximately 300 metres long and is literally a village under one roof. Plenty of time will be spent here meeting the families and perhaps sharing a drink (witchety grubs etc. yuk!) with some of the old headhunters. We exit the jungle by ferry from Limbang along the coast to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah .  I will also be flying to Sandakan to visit the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre to see the early morning feeding session.  Not sure if you have see recent documentary Borneo Diary but that will be me with lots of little orange babies hanging around my neck!!  This centre is essential to all abandoned Orangutans.  If it not for the people here they would be extinct with the next 20 years!

After all of the above we will have the afternoon of the last day to relax!!! After 21 days I think it will be more like pass out.  The last night is spent in a hotel – the only one night of the trip where we do – I think this is due to the fact that we would not be allowed back on the plane due to hygiene reasons having spent 20 days in the jungle!!

Once on my travels and if at any time I reach any sort of civilisation I will be on the net and updating you of my adventures.

Lots of love Camilla x

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