Every Step of the Way

Taking up any challenge, even an extreme one, for many people is not unusual, especially when the aim is to raise money to support a specific charity or other deserving cause. Often there is a direct link between the person taking on the challenge and the charity nominated to benefit from funds raised. Not all succeed, of course, even ending in heart break and sadly, tragic circumstances, at times. So, what happens when one, 57-year-old, unfit, overweight, ex-smoking individual decides to pit himself against one of the world's Seven Summits? Maybe it is a recipe for disaster on the face of it, some might even say foolhardy and risky but the events of the previous years that led to this attempt were compelling and after much consideration, made the urge too strong to ignore. The actual challenge was one thing but undertaking the preparation and importantly the fund raising, were extremely hard work, yet, at the same time fulfilling, fun and exhausting. Every Step of the Way not only charts the 12 months leading up to that week on Mount Kilimanjaro and details the actual climb but, additionally, looks into the reasons for attempting it, which began with one man being diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, his appalling treatment in care, and the inevitable outcome.