The height of fundraising achievement: the FSNBF's treks continue to prove to be highly popular...

More than 30 brave individuals have just returned from a 10 day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. All but three of the trekkers conquered the summit during the trek in February, a real achievement considering it stands at 5,896m! Mount Kilimanjaro's spectacular peaks can be seen from over 160km away

The mountain stands side by side with the smaller Mount Meru on the border of Kenya and together they create a micro-climate of their own which produces a plentiful supply of rain from the South and East. This has resulted in beautifully fertile land and the growth of extensive stretches of banana groves and coffee plantations. The 11,500 climbers who visit the mountain every year also enjoy rain forest and alpine deserts, and, at the summit, they can view the amazing melting glaciers. The slopes contain unique flora and fauna in addition to a wide array of bird-life, monkeys and, occasionally, even buffalo and leopard.

The mountain acts as a magnet for adventurers worldwide. They are lured to climb this legendary giant which dominates the high plateau of East Africa and conquer its peaks. With Kilimanjaro checking in as the highest freestanding mountain on the planet, this trek is a spectacular and unique challenge even for the most adventurous of trekkers. Our participants have been able to experience this once in a lifetime experience with the FSNBF in addition to raising vital funds for the charity to enable it to continue the work it does on behalf of its beneficiaries.

The second trek of 2003 is due to take our next set of dedicated participants to the stunning country of Peru in South America. The Inca Trail, gracefully winding through the jagged peaks and high-mountain jungles of Peru on its way to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, is one of the most beautiful and fascinating destinations in the world. No other place on earth combines such spectacular natural beauty with such marvelous intrigue.

The trail, which passes through high-altitude desert and cloud forest, boasts mountain passes with elevations of nearly 14,000 feet and orchid-rich jungle teeming with hummingbirds. Trekkers on the event, which will take place between September 14-24, will experience the same stunning vistas--and the same inexplicable sense of power--as the ancients did on their pilgrimages during the height of the Inca Empire.

You don't need to be an experienced walker to take part, so make sure you sign up for this once in a lifetime experience to discover the lost cities of Peru. For just a small registration fee and minimum amount of sponsorship, join us to explore the sites, ruins and architecture of this sacred land of the Incas.

For more information on the Peru trek or on the two treks planned for 2004 to Ecuador and Paraguay please contact: Barbara D'avino, National Fundraising Officer, FSNBF, Norbury Fire Station, 1321/1325A London Road, London, SW16 5AU, tel: 0208 689 4999; fax: 0208 6655334; email: barbara@fsnbfund.freeserve.co.uk or Toni Denyer, Fundraising Manager, on tel: 01903 736063; fax: 01903 739174; or email: tdenyer@fsnbf.org.uk.