Decisions, decisions!

On Thursday night I made a really big decision that is going to take over my life for the next twelve months.

I decided to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

I have always, always wanted to travel the world and my plans in my gap year didn't really go according to plan (long story!). So apart from a few, albeit wonderful, holidays my itchy feet have never been scratched. And now that I'm a Mamma I can't see Fjóla, Nick and I backpacking round the globe! So, I got to thinking as to how I can see the world.

Since starting as a Phoenix Trader four years ago, I've done quite a lot of charity fundraising and have raised a good amount of money. This makes me feel all warm and tingly inside knowing that even though I'm not doing anything life-changing I can still contribute a little bit to some very worthy causes.

So if you put together this warm tingly feeling and the itchy feet you'd probably think that I need to see a doctor! But in fact my little blonde brain went into over-drive and after a bit of surfing on the net I saw that loads of charities offered the chance to fundraise by trekking the Inca Trail. So it turned into a bit of a 'no-brainer' decision - I was going to do it!

The first thing I thought though (apart from the fact I would have to raise a shed-load of sponsorship money!) was that it would be so much more fun and enjoyable to do this trek with a friend.

So I posted a request on Facebook to see if I had any other friends willing to embark on this journey with me. And I got a response from a friend who said she would also love to come on this great adventure with me!

Ally O'Neill!
So here's a little bio about my travelling buddy!
The truth of the matter is that I don't know Ally that well. We only met in March when she joined my Phoenix team but she's one of those people in life that you instantly click with! It's very hard not to like her or smile when she's around. In truth, I think we are very similar. And I think that this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship! (I hope you agree Ally!)

So, that's two decisions made - to do the trek and go with a friend.

Next decision. Which charity to support.

Ally and I have talked quite a lot about this and I've put a lot of thought into it and it's probably the next biggest decision after choosing to do the trek.
This might sound like a strange thing to say but we have both been incredibly lucky in life. So choosing a charity that is close to our hearts is not as easy as it might be for some.

My grandmother died from cancer when I was very young and I don't have many memories of her. But this does make me want to lean towards a charity raising money to combat this dreadful disease. I also lost my grandfather a few years ago who was suffering with Alzheimer's. This again is another dreadful disease with many worthy charities associated with it that I feel I would like to raise money for.

Ally and I are both very blessed to have three very happy, healthy children between us. This has made us think hard about raising money for one of the many children's charities because although we are very fortunate not to have been touched by the reasons they are trying to fundraise, this is precisely the reason why we should support them.

But more recently, I feel a great affinity to mental health charities for very personal reasons.

So you can see that our decision is not an easy one. And as of yet it has not been made. But Ally and I are meeting on Wednesday and have pledged make our decision. I will report back with the news!


Next decision - write a blog about this adventure!
My lovely old school friend, Carly (who writes a wonderful blog about life as a mum - www.mummysshoes.com) recommended how to get started and here I am!

This is going to be my journal for the next twelves months to document anything and everything! From fundraising schemes to training and all the highs and lows I'm going to encounter, I am going to write about it all! I think it is going to be an incredible motivator (and also cheap therapy!) for me to keep a diary of everything 'Peru'!

So, I hope you enjoy it and will join me on what will hopefully be one of the most incredibly journeys of my life!